| Inspirational poems remind us of our need to | | | | students give in and talk badly about their parents. |
| "walk the walk" and not just "talk the talk." Words | | | | When I sense this in a class, I look for an |
| can be inspirational and motivational or be misused | | | | opportunity to inject a different perspective free |
| and become detrimental to our lives. This poem | | | | of peer pressure bias. I ask them, "What if you |
| shows how misuse can erode our society. | | | | got a call on the intercom to come to the office, |
| Commitment | | | | and when you got there you found a close |
| Keep your word | | | | relative awaiting you with the news that your |
| No matter what | | | | folks had just been killed in a car wreck? Would |
| The cost to you may be. | | | | you wish you had left the house differently this |
| For those nearby | | | | morning? Would you wish you could change the |
| Believe not what | | | | last things you said as you left?" |
| They hear but what they see. | | | | Can you imagine the regrets they would have? |
| The character pictured in this poem is difficult to | | | | Each of us could benefit by carefully and lovingly |
| attain. I guess it is one of the virtues that is | | | | watching our departures from loved ones in the |
| admired in direct proportion to the amount of | | | | morning and each time we say goodbye. |
| selflessness expressed by not going back on your | | | | Poems like this last one can offer great meaning. |
| word. | | | | To those of us who have had children and have |
| Frequently, people say they will be at a certain | | | | seen them grow up, our die is cast. But for those |
| place at a certain time but fail to show. Or | | | | who are still on that journey, there is time to |
| someone borrows an item and fails to return it. | | | | heed this warning about the use of our words and |
| Or a parent promises to take his child somewhere | | | | time. |
| and doesn't follow through leaving the child | | | | Unfamiliar Gray |
| disillusioned. | | | | Too busy we |
| Society today seems to accept that people | | | | To nurture them |
| cannot be counted upon. | | | | To read, to laugh, to pray. |
| But for those who reject this lack of self | | | | To busy they |
| accountability and seek for a better life and | | | | To visit us, |
| testimony to those around them, planning ahead | | | | The unfamiliar gray. |
| and counting the cost is their life blood. It's the | | | | It's a constant battle for a parent to find time to |
| only way to live - even when their best plans fail. | | | | spend with his children. Mom and dad each have |
| It is these people who are admired, blessed, and | | | | responsibilities for providing for their children that |
| accomplish the most in life. | | | | take a lot of time and energy. There really isn't |
| This next poem shows us how words can be | | | | much of either left over at the end of the day. |
| instrumental as we reprioritize our actions. | | | | But why do we parents have children in the first |
| Take Care | | | | place if we are not going to designate enough |
| How did you say | | | | time for their growth and nurture? Without |
| Goodbye this morn? | | | | enough time spent with parents, children will turn |
| What were the things you said? | | | | out poorly and surely won't provide their parents |
| What if they were | | | | with late life fellowship and care. |
| Your final words | | | | The key is two-fold; desire that your kids turn |
| Until the life ahead? | | | | out right and plan ahead to make time to share |
| Once in awhile it is good to stop and take stock | | | | both words and activities with them. |
| of our blessings. Two of these blessings are our | | | | Remember always to keep your word when you |
| children and our parents. | | | | promise something, choose carefully your words |
| Now, parents is a sore subject with high school | | | | when leaving the house in the morning, and make |
| students, sometimes. Wrapped up in their social | | | | time to use your words for the nurture and |
| frenzy of getting their friend's approval, many | | | | admonition of your children. |