Freeper Canteen ~ Sunday Chapel Thread ~ A MESSAGE FROM MOM ~ September 28, 2008

The Canteen Crew ^ | 9-27-08 | Serving the Best Troops & Vets in the WORLD!!!

[Brad’s Gramma]

 

 

 

 

 

A MESSAGE FROM MOM

I gave you life, but cannot live it for you.
I can teach you things, but I cannot make you learn.
I can give you directions, but I cannot be there to lead you.
I can allow you freedom, but I cannot account for it.
I can take you to church, but I cannot make you believe.
I can teach you right from wrong, but I cannot always decide for you.
I can buy you beautiful clothes, but I cannot make you beautiful inside.
I can offer you advice, but I cannot accept it for you.
I can give you love, but I cannot force it upon you.
I can teach you to share, but I cannot make you unselfish.
I can teach you respect, but I cannot force you to show honor.
I can advise you about friends, but cannot choose them for you.
I can advise you about sex, but I cannot keep you pure.
I can tell you the facts of life, but I can't build your reputation.
I can tell you about drink, but I can't say "no" for you.
I can warn you about drugs but I can't prevent you from using them.
I can tell you about lofty goals, but I can't achieve them for you.
I can teach you about kindness, but I can't force you to be gracious.
I can warn you about sins, but I cannot make you moral.
I can love you as a child, but I cannot place you in God's family.
I can pray for you, but I cannot make you walk with God.
I can teach you about Jesus, but I cannot make Jesus your Lord.
I can tell you how to live, but I cannot give you eternal life.
I can love you with unconditional love all of my life...and I will!!! -- Mom

The author of this little piece is listed as "anonymous" on the copy I have before me. The author's background, circumstances, intended audience and motive are unknown -- at least to me. It's powerfully written, but I suspect it will impact each of us differently, depending on our own PERSONAL history and circumstances. One thing I do know from many years as a pastor and chaplain. Many of you who read this won't be able to identify with such lofty words. You didn't have a mom like that. And you may not be that sort of parent yourself. Still, there is a message here for all of us. Even in spite of human frailty.

The good news from scripture (at least in the Christian tradition) is that ALL of us already have that kind of loving parent... though some of us may not know or accept it yet. We have God as our Father! And I even remember hearing at least one sermon on "The Motherhood of God!" It wasn't delivered by some radical feminist trying to rewrite Christian theology, but by a very conservative seminary professor. And he based it on a passage from Deuteronomy 32:11 which describes an eagle "hovering" over its young. The professor's point was that God has all the attributes of a good mother as well as of a good father. The psalmist affirmed that as he wrote, "When my father and my mother forsake me, then God will take care of me." (Psalm 27:11)

God doesn't force belief, but, like the mom in that message, gives us the freedom to choose. Even when we reject faith, blame Him for everything wrong in our lives, and hurt His other children, He never gives up on us. And His letters to us are pretty extensive. Hopefully, we will all get THAT message, even if we never have an earthly mom (or dad) like the one in the letter above.

CAPT J. David Atwater, CHC, USN

 

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good Sunday morning, Pusterfuss...((HUGS))...33 right now, but we had a sunny and beautiful Saturday. Did you get some workshop time?

[Pusterfuss]

Did you get some workshop time?

I hope to this afternoon.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Mahalia Jackson ~ The 23rd Psalm

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good Lord’s Day to you, E...((HUGS))...how did your teams do? Hope Chuck is doing well.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Alabama ~ Will The Circle Be Unbroken

Vince Gill ~ Soldier Of The Cross

The Marksmen ~ Mercy And Grace

Alan Jackson ~ When We All Get To Heaven

Statler Brothers ~ Just A Little Talk With Jesus

Bill Monroe ~ Lord Protect My Soul

John Conlee ~ Peace Within

Elvis Presley ~ He Touched Me

Ella Fitzgerald ~ I Need Thee Every Hour

Jim Nabors ~ Battle Hymn Of The Republic

Alabama ~ Will The Circle Be Unbroken

Vince Gill ~ Soldier Of The Cross

The Marksmen ~ Mercy And Grace

Alan Jackson ~ When We All Get To Heaven

Statler Brothers ~ Just A Little Talk With Jesus

Bill Monroe ~ Lord Protect My Soul

John Conlee ~ Peace Within

Elvis Presley ~ He Touched Me

Ella Fitzgerald ~ I Need Thee Every Hour

Jim Nabors ~ Battle Hymn Of The Republic

[Kathy in Alaska]

Shorty GiggleLips & the Canteen Kids

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thanks, Troops and Vets, for your service to our country.

Josh Groban ~ You Raise Me Up

Thanks, unique, for the logo.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Amazing Grace ~ Cherokee

Elvis ~ In The Garden

Jim Ed Brown ~ Chapel Bells Are Ringing

John Berry ~ Old Rugged Cross

Kitty Wells ~ Dust On the Bible

Red Sovine ~ Deck of Cards

The Statler Brothers ~ Church in the Wildwood

Tennessee Ernie Ford ~ Faith of Our Fathers

The Gaithers ~ What A Friend We Have in Jesus

Elvis ~ Precious Lord

Ray Cornelius ~ One Set of Footprints

How Great Thou Art ~ Choctaw

Amazing Grace ~ Cherokee

Elvis ~ In The Garden

Jim Ed Brown ~ Chapel Bells Are Ringing

John Berry ~ Old Rugged Cross

Kitty Wells ~ Dust On the Bible

Red Sovine ~ Deck of Cards

The Statler Brothers ~ Church in the Wildwood

Tennessee Ernie Ford ~ Faith of Our Fathers

The Gaithers ~ What A Friend We Have in Jesus

Elvis ~ Precious Lord

Ray Cornelius ~ One Set of Footprints

How Great Thou Art ~ Choctaw

[E.G.C.]

Oh my gosh, Kathy. All our state teams did real well yesterday.

OU beat TCU 35-10. OSU trounced Troy 55-24

And, Tulsa beat Central Arkansas 64-32.

Our high school footnall team is 0-3 unfortunately. They lost to Frederick 27-0 friday night.

My brother from Texas is here for a visit this weekend. I've got to go to town later today as we're running short on some things.

Chuck is doing fine. His left foot hurts from time to time but otherwise he's doing OK.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good to hear that Chuck is doing mostly well, and that it wasn’t a circulation problem.

Oh my goodness....all your Oklahoma’s sure did score alot of points!!

Did your brother have any issues with Hurricane Ike?

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good Lord’s Day to you and Barb. God Bless our troops indeed.

[Arrowhead1952]

Good morning Kathy. Have a Blessed Lord’s Day.

[E.G.C.]

Well, his home escaped unscathed. The only thing touched was the fence which got blown over.

Others not so lucky. Last I heard power was still out in a few places.

Have an aunt whose daughter lives in Channelview. Power is still out where she lives.

[Kathy in Alaska]

My brother and his family are in Kingwood. They got power back the night of the 21st, but he said lots of folks in the same area were still without. Don’t know how much that has changed in a week. They also had fence come down, but no trees. Glad your brother only had fence damage.

From what I’ve read, that whole east side of Houston got hit pretty hard. Hope she gets her power back soon.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good morning to you, Arrowhead,and a Blessed day to you.

[Kathy in Alaska]

God bless and keep safe our troops worldwide.

Good night.

Statler Brothers ~ How Great Thou Art

[MEG33]

Wishing The Canteen A Blessed Lord's Day
Today Is

Gold Star Mother's Day

President's Proclamation

[Mozie]

Thanks Kathy!

[blackie]

Thanks Kathy!!

{{HUGS}}

[blackie]

Thank you and the same to you!