Each day I’ll do a golden deed By helping those who are in need My life on earth is but a span And so I’ll do the best I can
Life’s evening sun is sinking low
A few more days and I must go
To meet the deeds that I have done
Where there will be no setting sun
To be a child of God each day My life must shine along the way I’ll sing His praise while the ages roll And strive to help some troubled soul
While going down life’s weary road I’ll try to lift some traveler’s load I’ll try to turn the night to day Make flowers bloom along the way
The only life that will endure Is one that’s kind and good and pure And so for God, I’ll take my stand Each day I’ll lend a helping hand
I play this song at least 3 times a week. It soothes me and awakens to me at the same time. No one knows who wrote it. I found it by chance on a CD of old country hymns and the tune is mellow. I have looked for it in song books. Nothing. Can’t find it in the oldest hymnals (unless I happen to be looking for the wrong title). If anyone can help identify that song and it’s owner, please do leave a comment.
It is life simplified yet this sums up a lot of things in a person’s everyday life. And positive in every word!
That song about sums it up for me but my life does go a little more in-depth than that.
Years ago – LONG before I found this song – I had a motivational class given at work, the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. One of the topics included having a purpose – a life mission – and we were given the challenge to come up with one over the weekend and share the next time we met.
Mine couldn’t wait.
I had a draft written by the end of that class. I couldn’t stop the pen from streaming my thoughts onto lined paper. (this was an era before laptops were given to employees like candy, as common as cell phones are now).
It was barely legible. It was brief but to the point and bold.
Simply – it was to serve God in any way I could. Everyday. His. Cleared of excuses. Surrendered. Ready.
What did I write? Pretty much all that. And despite my own stumbles and hard times I strive to be an example of an over-comer.
That’s pretty much it!
Writing a mission statement is not hard to do:
1/ Keep it simple. Don’t get so wordy that you lose the message. Make it easy for YOU to understand and want to read regularly. I’m so into simple these days. Balance. Simplicity. Pick something and do it well. Love it well. Own it.
2/Write it down. The commitment, on paper and signed, holds you to it.
3/ Keep it accessible. Well, I had typed up, edited and printed out a great copy of what he had read, maybe even embellished it a little bit. To this day I can’t find that paper or the soft copy on any hard drive or disk BUT I do remember what I wrote because it was visibly and mentally absorbed, heartfelt and it was all ME. I can’t forget what it was if I tried.
4/Do not copy someone else’s statement. Everyone has their own calling in life.
5/ Write it in present tense so that it is always present during your life.
6/ Do not change it too much. Add to it a few things in life (as life does change) but don’t forget where you came from. If you must change it, take note of the lessons learned along the way.
7/ Show it. Just for accountability.
8/ Live it. To be that light – someone in the world who knows their purpose.
Here are some famous statements about having a mission:
My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.
I don’t have enough room here to write all that Jesus wrote about our life mission here on earth, but here is one main point:
“And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. Mark 12:30-31
Jesus
Do you have your own life’s mission figured out yet? If not, follow the steps above and list your personal values, what you hope to accomplish, how you want to be remembered. There are many tests online for aptitudes and talents. Just google them, take a test or two if you’re truly clueless and get to work! Life is too short for aimlessness, idleness and partying. Those get old fast. Then you get old.
Soothing Prose - a picturesque spiritual journal 
always enjoy your inspiring post.
Be true to yourself each and every day.