Because I Had To

Our principal’s secretary shared this with us recently. Maybe it was borrowed –not sure:

‘ I’m stronger because I had to be, I’m smarter because of my mistakes, happier because of the sadness I’ve known, and now wiser because of what I have learned! ‘

I couldn’t help but reflect on the times ‘I had to’ even when I didn’t want to. It speaks to the strength of the human spirit. What a made up mind can do or be. Human resolve. Today I salute those of you who rolled out of bed not because you wanted to, but because you had to or chose to. I attended a funeral this past weekend and I know this morning there’s a daughter, a son, a sister, a mother, grandchild who is limping in pain. They showed up because they had to. Life can be quite unladylike — she holds back no punches and goes for the jugular with no respect of person. Some times we just don’t get to choose. We pull up our bootstraps, breathe and go to bat. So if there was ever a time’ you had to ‘ — welcome to the club. You’re made with some special fiber, the kind that refuses to be shattered. The kind that refuses to stay down for long. You’re among those who ‘had to’:

I had to
No one else could or would
Weapons hurled at my mind
Telling me to stay down
Quit—walk away
Give up and give in

Had to
The fight was fierce and relentless
Battle scarred and bruised
Limping and broken in hidden places
But the inner man refused to lay dead
Got up – showed up

Had to
Many witnesses cheering me on
Others depending on my win
To spur them on in their own struggles
No time to surrender
Time to shout the battle cry

You took the battered me
Kissed my battle scars
Infused me with hope and strength
Beckoned me to rise
Because of You
Lord I had to

For by You I can run against a troop, By my God I can leap over a wall.

Psalm 18:29

***Glad you stopped by. If you ever ‘had to’ – I salute you.