I remember as a child while sitting in church I would read the back of the paper fans that lay in the pocket before me. Here is the poem that I always read on the back of the fan:
Did You Throw it Away?
God gave you this day to do just as you would,
You can throw it away or do some good,
You can make someone happy, or make someone sad,
What have you done with the day that you had?
God gave it to you to do just as you would,
You can do what is wicked, or do what is good,
You can hand out a smile, or just a frown.
You can lift someone up or push someone down,
You can lighten some load, or some progress impede,
You can look for a rose, or just gather some weed,
What did you do with your beautiful day,
God gave it to you, did you throw it away?
It’s amazing to me how this poem came to mind this morning. I must have been only 9 or 10 years old at the time. But I do remember being drawn to those words to the point of reciting it before an audience, well reciting whatever I could remember at the time. I wanted so much to tell everyone about these beautiful words not knowing how years later they would impact my life.
But what are these words actually saying? I believe they are saying, you can either ‘win’ or you can ‘whine’, you choose. Winning is simply:
- doing some good (stepping our of your comfort zone)
- making someone happy (going out of your way to please)
- handing out a smile (sharing of yourself)
- lifting someone up (encouraging instead pointing a finger)
- lightening some load (helping someone else to move forward)
- looking for a rose instead of a weed (expecting the best instead of the worse)
- seeing everyday as beautiful (enjoying the gift of life)
Self gain is not all there is to winning. Success is not all there is to winning. It’s never all about us, but always about someone else.
What are you doing with your day? Are you winning or whining? Don’t throw it away!
Final note: as a certified interior living educator, specialist and strategist, I can help you to apply the tools to create major breakthroughs, achieve emotional clarity, personal accountability and inner direction so you can create a life of confidence, order and freedom. Let me help you get unstuck and live intentionally so you can design your ideal life. Begin by signing up for a get-acquainted session on my website.
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Live by Design,
Copyright 2012, Dr. Deana Murphy. Dr. Deana works with women leaders who want to BOUNCE BACK, FAST-FORWARD their lives courageously, confidently, and conscientiously, leaving a positive footprint in the world.
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Amazing, I just posted this poem on my wall and couldn’t remember the words. When I googled it this is what I found.. I too remember this poem so well and I was also 9 or 10 at the time, I always looked for that fan every sunday for a long time because the words just caught me by surprise. As a child I looked at those words differently but today they have even more impact!
God gave me this day to do just as I would, did I Throw it Away? No, I choose the the ONE, that a day is as thousand years, and HIS day is eternal.
Thanks for sharing that poem, Ms. D. I appreciated it although I didn’t remember reading it. I can remember going to Oberry Church with Big Mama and Big Daddy. They were always doing something good for other people. Big Mama always cooked good meals and shared them with whomever came by or she would bring it to our house sometime. Now I love to cook and share a meal with others also.
I, too, remembered reading the poem during prayer meetings and church but I could not remember the words. Thanks for remembering the words and posting the words. They resonated with me as a child and have remained in my consciousness. Thank you.