A Ballad for My Mother
By Ruth Baird Shaw <>< 1982

Author's Note: My mother lived to be nearly 89 years old and she had a philosophy of life as a Christian, not to worry about things that "could not be helped" and to take each day as a new beginning. . .

My mother grew old. . . had lines etched in her face
    Worked hard all her life. . . with uncommon grace
    She lived by the Bible. . . And I'd visit awhile
    She taught me her secret. . . of life with a smile

She said. . . Today is the first day
    Of the rest of your life.
    Don't borrow trouble
    With yesterday's strife.
    Take time. . . smell the flowers
    That's makes life worth while
    Then pick up each new day
    And love and a smile!

Widowed while young. . . Mama worked in the mill
    Washed on a scrub-board. . . Brought wood up a hill
    She sang as she labored. . . to stay out of debt
    And taught me this lesson. . . I'll never forget

One day I said, Mama,. . . Your life has been hard
    You've buried two babies. . . Out in the church yard
    You've known all the heartache of struggling for bread,
    She smiled through her tears and these words she said:
        Today is the first day
        Of the rest of your life.
        Don't borrow trouble
        With yesterday's strife.
        Take time. . . smell the flowers
        That's makes life worth while
        Then pick up each new day
        And love and a smile!

Her old fashioned tea cakes. . . We ate the last crumb
    Her old fashioned flowers. . . She had a green thumb.
    She lived by the Bible. . . each day and each mile
    She taught me her secret. . . of life with a smile!