Poem

My son came home today from a day out with four of boys from his army cadet cadre.  His comments about what made the day a success made me smile within. He’s learning success is all in how you look at things.  It is SO good to see this growth. 

How it is Measured

Success is what we look for
Day after day.
Perfection, being the best,
Winning the game.
Finishing the list.
Doing the job without mistakes.
These things we measure as
Success.

A lad comes home.
“How’d it go”? The question asked.
The answer comes with a grin
“We sucked. Mom, we did so bad!”
“Yeah?”
“But mom, it was GREAT!
I want to go again!”
I asked “Why”? Adding
“The day didn’t go as planned”.
“It was fun! I learned a lot”
This was the measure of
Success.

Not the win,
Not necessarily the loss.
The friendship and camaraderie.
The learning.
Location that surprises.
“Oh, and mom, that place is HUGE.
We had to run everywhere.”

As the night went on,
the lad expounded
The events of the day
fresh in his head.
He talked of helping.
Laughter at foolish mistakes.
Orienteering better understood.
Success.
Even in the midst of complete
Failure.

Join the Community

Miss Kate posts a word prompt almost every Friday.  This week the word is Success last week it was Challenge.  So take five minutes, tell me what the word success has to say to you.  It would be great to hear!

Okay, I’m a bit late for doing my Five Minute Friday post which is hosted by Miss Kate. This week has been so full of work I’ve hardly had a chance to sit down it feels.  In light of the fact that this week’s word is back, let’s look back over the week shall we?  🙂

Hard Week

Monday cleaning and painting the new bottom of the new to us truck bed. This involved lots of rags, and the lad gained skills in vehicle maintenance.  He learned to put a shop vac together. 

Wednesday our car was in the shop.  The new to us car is causing us some mental strain with some of the issues it is having.  This time it needed new wheel bearings and we need to find something called dust covers.  I don’t know what they are and Jim can’t seem to find them along.  We’re thinking we might have to hit up some of the junk yards.

Thursday and Friday were focused on getting the truck in working order.  This necessitated some heavy lifting and a lot of team work.  We replaced the old bed with a new one.   The lads got the lights working again and after some intense moments of frustration got all the bolts connected.   The rest of Friday, the lad and I spent gathering materials they would need for camping.   I mostly had everything packed except for the kayaks and food. 

Today (Saturday) I finished packing up my son and hubby up for a week of camping. I forgot to get Jim (hubs) to help me get the propane tank extensions out of the trailer. So they are missing those, but I can bring them up when I come.  They have some small propane tanks with them to hold them over.  I’ll join them this coming weekend for a bit. 

I have to admit, it was a tough week physically.   It was so hard.  Lifting and moving.  Having to deal with frustration seeping off my hubby, feeling his discouragement as physically as I could hold a rabbit.

In the midst of that hardness though, as I look back I see more though. 

Look Back

The conversation flowed by between boy and man,
We need to do this, and then that.
“Am I doing it right dad?”
“You got it son”, the response it came.

“Dad, can I help?”
The words often came.
I love watching them work together.

MOM! Dad needs you!!!!
The call rang out
Startled I arose and quickly went outside.
Finding I’m needed,
Another strong pair, hands lifting, shifting.
Holding while bolts connected.

Work done I stayed outside.
Listening, waiting, being close at hand.
Smiling I watched my bunnies on the grass.
Then grinning as I watch
A wee little one demonstrate she’s too smart
To stay outside.
Puddle won’t stay in a pen on the grass.

Banished from the grass,
She thumps in the cage.
Waiting to end of day
For her not as smart littermates to return.

Laundry flapping.
Clear bright days.
Decent health.
Hard work possible.
I could make everything ready.
For my boys to go away.
Camping in sight.
I was pleased to pray them on their way.

Looking back I find.
A hard week… was good. 🙂