PAD 30: The End in the Beginning

 

At the annual Life Chain in October.

PAD Challenge, Day 30 prompt: For today's Two-for-Tuesday prompt, write a The End poem and/or write a Beginning poem.

The End in the Beginning

“Finis origine pendet.” – “The end depends on the beginning.” (Manlius, 1st Cent. Roman poet).

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end” (Revelation 22:13).

Most people begin with a sprint and then they choke out,

But some begin like a marathon as soon as the race has broke out;

The latter begin with a sure-footed step,

Not worried by those far ahead at first lap,

For they’ll persevere and then shorten the lead

When the sprinters will falter and struggle to breathe.

As parents, we always will look to the end,

And efforts to form a good character spend.

I have somewhere read that by the ripe age of six,

The foundation for character’s already fixed.

So we should not give children a life made of ease,

But forge them through toughness and responsibility.

We parents have always to think far ahead,

Or face dire consequences that we dread:

That Eli’s true shame would become then our own

For lack of good diligent discipline shown.

If twisting persists when the sapling is green,

Distorted and warped will the full-grown tree be.

With diligent discipline prune we the branch,

Or else all is fruitless not taking a stance

To form moral compass and character firm

In all of our children, despite tantrums and squirms.

Thus, we look to the end when raising our children,

Raising to maturing: with this sight we begin.

But how to form their character when often it’s the case

That many men are fatherless or with indifference raised?

So often, men do seek to be affirmed in manliness,

And often seek it wrongly in a woman’s sweet caress.

Boys are made to men within the council of other men,

Political correctness cannot stifle this natural trend.

We look to the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End,

The first One and the last One, to be our very Friend;

To reveal to us the Father, and Saint Joseph in His stead,

As we seek to raise our families and earn our daily bread;

To give to us His Spirit, Paraclete and Counsellor,

That our efforts may be fruitful by His grace for to endure.