My Motto

Having a personal motto is something I adopted during times when I've struggled to just make it through today. After a certain amount of "just make it through today", all the while knowing that you'll just be saying the same thing again to yourself tomorrow just doesn't cut it. HOW? HOW can I make it through today? HOW can I make it through the next day? I know I am going to survive having four children, but HOW am I going to survive?

I knew I needed a new motto for this fall. My old motto wasn't bad, I just needed something different. Something Cindy at Ordo Amoris posted about earlier in the year was how she was going to introduce "Beauty, Truth, and Goodness" as its own "subject", shall we say, during Morning Time. I say this to credit her with giving me the idea of the importance of seeing truth and beauty and goodness. Surrounding yourself with it. Telling yourself the Truth. My motto needed to be Truth. Not some plasticized, "because you're worth it" line to boost my self worth. I needed something deep. Very deep. Something that would go with me all the way down into days when all I have left is dregs.

Last week I decided to open the wrapper to an LP I bought over 10 years ago. It was outdated then, just as it is now. But I didn't notice until I started reading the cover art and the LP began turning circles, that Lynn Pyles was one of the singers. And Rachel Beauchamp. I nearly started crying. Two of my favorite people - real life mentors - singing in my home, singing Truths. The second hymn that came on is one I've heard many times. Not enough.

Children of the Heavenly King
AKA King of Peace, from Southern Harmony, 1835
Words: J. Cennick
Music: Pleyel

Children of the heavenly King,
As ye journey, sweetly sing;
Sing your Savior’s worthy praise,
Glorious in His works and ways

We are traveling home to God,
In the way the fathers trod;
They are happy now, and we
Soon their happiness shall see.

O, ye banished seed, be glad!
Christ our advocate is made;
Us to save, our flesh assumes—
Brother to our souls becomes.

Shout, ye little flock, and blest,
You on Jesus’ throne shall rest:
There your seat is now prepared—
There your kingdom and reward.

Lift your eyes, ye sons of light,
Zion’s city is in sight:
There our endless home shall be,
There our Lord we soon shall see.

Fear not, brethren; joyful stand
On the borders of your land;
Jesus Christ, your Father’s Son,
Bids you undismayed go on.

Lord, obedient we would go,
Gladly leaving all below;
Only Thou our leader be;
And we will still follow Thee.

And there it was. My motto.

"Jesus Christ, your Father’s Son,
Bids you undismayed go on."