A Simple Creed

Caddie Woodlawn

2006-05-31T10:58:00.000-05:00

I fully intended to actually blog whenever I set this blog up, though I'm afraid I haven't done a very good job of it. My sincerest apologies to anyone who may have actually been checking for updates. I do have a quote for you from the book Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink.

"Perhaps Mother was a little hasty to-day, Caddie," he said. "She really loves you very much, and, you see, she expects more of you than she would of someone she didn't care about. It's a strange thing, but somehow we expect more of girls than of boys. It is the sisters and wives and mothers, you know, Caddie, who keep the world sweet and beautiful. What a rough world it would be if there were only men and boys in it, doing things in their rough way! A woman's task is to teach them gentleness and courtesy and love and kindness. It's a big task, too, Caddie--harder than cutting trees or building mills or damming rivers. It takes nerve and courage and patience, but good women have those things. They have them just as much as the men who build bridges and carve roads through the wilderness. A woman's work is something fine and noble to grow up to, and it is just as important as a man's. But no man could ever do it so well. I don't want you to be the silly, affected person with fine clothes and manners, whom folks sometimes call a lady. No, that is not what I want for you, my little girl. I want you to be a woman with a wise and understanding heart, healthy in body and honest in mind."

Amazing Love

2006-02-16T19:11:00.000-06:00

Love so amazing, so divine,

Demands my soul, my life, my all.

~When I Survey the Wondrous Cross by Isaac Watts

Romans 12

2006-02-08T07:17:00.000-06:00

Therefore, I urge you, brothers,
in view of God's mercy,
to offer your bodies as living sacrifices,
holy and pleasing to God
--this is your spiritual act of worship.

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world,
but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is
—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you:
Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought,
but rather think of yourself with sober judgment,
in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.

Just as each of us has one body with many members,
and these members do not all have the same function,
so in Christ we who are many form one body,
and each member belongs to all the others.

We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.
If a man's gift is prophesying,
let him use it in proportion to his faith.
If it is serving,
let him serve;
if it is teaching,
let him teach;
if it is encouraging,
let him encourage;
if it is contributing to the needs of others,
let him give generously;
if it is leadership,
let him govern diligently;
if it is showing mercy,
let him do it cheerfully.

Love must be sincere.

Hate what is evil;
cling to what is good.

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.
Honor one another above yourselves.

Never be lacking in zeal,
but keep your spiritual fervor,
serving the Lord.

Be joyful in hope,
patient in affliction,
faithful in prayer.

Share with God's people who are in need.
Practice hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you;
bless and do not curse.

Rejoice with those who rejoice;
mourn with those who mourn.

Live in harmony with one another.

Do not be proud,
but be willing to associate with people of low position.
Do not be conceited.

Do not repay anyone evil for evil.

Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.
If it is possible,
as far as it depends on you,
live at peace with everyone.

Do not take revenge, my friends,
but leave room for God's wrath,
for it is written:
"It is mine to avenge;
I will repay,"
says the Lord.
On the contrary:
"If your enemy is hungry,
feed him;
if he is thirsty,
give him something to drink.
In doing this,
you will heap burning coals on his head."

Do not be overcome by evil,
but overcome evil with good.

Words of Wisdom from Pride and Prejudice

2006-02-07T16:11:00.000-06:00

"I know your disposition, Lizzy. I know that you could be neither happy or respectable, unless you truly esteemed your husband; unless you looked up to him as a superior. Your lively talents would place you in the greatest danger in an unequal marriage. You could scarcely escape discredit and misery. My child, let me not have the grief of seeing you unable to respect your partner in life."
~Mr. Bennet to his daughter in Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Links

2006-01-31T20:18:00.000-06:00

I am in the process of adding links to my side bar, so I thought now would be a good time to write a disclaimer of sorts. I do not necessarily agree with all the ideas or views represented on these links. These are just links to sites that I regularly visit, and whose views challenge me to think even if I don't agree with their opinions.

"If" for Girls

2006-01-31T09:21:00.000-06:00

The title for meh blog comes from this poem "If" for Girls by McEvoy. The original "If" by Rudyard Kipling can be read here.

"If" for Girls

If you can hear the whispering about you
And never yield to deal in whispers, too;
If you can bravely smile when loved ones doubt you
And never doubt, in turn, what loved ones do;
If you can keep a sweet and gentle spirit
In spite of fame or fortune, rank or place,
And though you win your goal or only near it,
Can win with poise or lose with equal grace;

If you can meet with Unbelief, believing,
And hallow in your heart, a simple creed,
If you can meet Deception, undeceiving,
And learn to look to God for all you need;
If you can be what girls should be to mothers:
Chums in joy and comrades in distress,
And be unto others as you'd have the others
Be unto you - - no more, and yet no less;

If you can keep within your heart the power
To say that firm, unconquerable "No,"
If you can brave a present shadowed hour
Rather than yield to build a future woe;
If you can love, yet not let loving master,
But keep yourself within your own self's clasp,
And not let Dreaming lead you to disaster
Nor Pity's fascination loose your grasp;

If you can lock your heart on confidences
Nor ever needlessly in turn confide;
If you can put behind you all pretenses
Of mock humility or foolish pride;
If you can keep the simple, homely virtue
Of walking right with God - - then have no fear
That anything in all the world can hurt you - -
And - - which is more - - you'll be a Woman, dear.

I read this on the Modestly Yours blog. That post can be viewed here.

The First Post

2006-01-28T22:04:00.000-06:00

Since this is my first post it should be memorable... exciting... inspiring...

Unfortunately, I can think of anything that is memorable, exciting or inspiring. I am very sorry. You have my deepest, heartfelt apologies.

*CHICA*