Wednesday, June 03, 2009

How Did You Die?


Did you tackle that trouble that came your way

With a resolute heart and cheerful?
Or hide your face from the light of day
With a craven soul and fearful?
Oh, a trouble's a ton, or a trouble's an ounce,
Or a trouble is what you make it,
And it isn't the fact that you're hurt that counts,
But only how did you take it?

You are beaten to earth? Well, well, what's that?
Come up with a smiling face.
It's nothing against you to fall down flat,
But to lie there -- that's disgrace.
The harder you're thrown, why the higher you bounce;
Be proud of your blackened eye!
It isn't the fact that you're licked that counts,
It's how did you fight -- and why?

And though you be done to the death, what then?
If you battled the best you could,
If you played your part in the world of men,
Why, the Critic will call it good.
Death comes with a crawl, or comes with a pounce,
And whether he's slow or spry,
It isn't the fact that you're dead that counts,
But only how did you die?

Edmund Vance Cooke (1866 – 1932)

5 comments:

justagirl4god said...

It is so important for us to remember to die to ourselves and live in Christ. Thanks for the reminder!

xo

justagirl4god

Distinctively and Deliberately Feminine said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Distinctively and Deliberately Feminine said...

Thanks, Adeline!!
What an encouragement.

LOL,
Amanda

damask-rose said...

I like the poem, but really, there's no such thing as 'being dead' is there?

MORTONCLAN said...

Dear Damask Rose,

Hello! I hope you're having a wonderful afternoon. :)

About your thoughts-There are two kinds of death-physical death, and spiritual death. Now, as to physical death, as you know, everybody eventually dies. (the only exception being Elijah, and those of us who, "After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever." 1 Thess. 4:17) Whether it be from old age, disease, accident or disaster, the human body stops breathing at one point, and your spirit goes on to one of two places-and this is where spiritual death really hits home-if you did not accept Jesus Christ as your Saviour, and you did not accept His sacrifice for you, His cleansing blood, and therefore are dead spiritually, ("For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."Romans 6:23) then you go to hell. Now, if you have accepted Him as your Saviour, and have had your sins washed away by the blood of the perfect Lamb, then that's when you have spiritual LIFE in Christ Jesus, and you live with Him forever in heaven! Wow, He is so merciful!! Thank You, Lord.

Hope this is helpful. We believe that this poem is encouraging us to live for Christ-it is not the fact that you are dead that counts (physically) but only, why, and for Whom? Who did we live for, and why did we die? May we answer before God at the judgement throne, that we lived and died, and have eternal life, for and in Christ Jesus.

Love,

Adeline