I look back on my life and I can plainly see
I brought a lot of misery on others and me.
I was very determined to have my own way
Disregarding everything my parents would say.
Then other relationships soon began crumbling
I blamed all of them and continued my grumbling.
I was very confused. I was a mixed-up child.
By the time I was teen age my temper ran wild.
My parents always fought, to get their own way
And our family was deteriorating day by day.
Then, mom got a divorce and dad had a big fit!
As he drank more booze he did nothing but sit.
I was living with dad but we soon had a fight
Then I spread my wings and this bird took flight!
I went to mom's and things started out smooth.
Then she and I tangled and I decided to move
Back to my dad's. I was hoping to find peace.
But soon I discovered the friction didn't cease.
When things got hairy and tempers came unwound
I went back to mom's for another big round.
Each time I had returned to my mother's place
She saw my clothes were a dire disgrace.
She'd take me shopping and buy me new clothes
But I felt she was trying to lead me by the nose.
I soon needed wheels, for I'd found a job, you see . . .
So, mom bought a new truck especially for me.
But still I wouldn't abide by mom's dumb rules
Yes, this world is sure filled, with stupid, dumb fools!
Then back to dad's but he wouldn't bent his thinking
And I was far to big for him to be spanking.
But while dad was drunk we got into a feud.
And our tempers were violent; our language was crude.
A neighbor called the law and I wound up in jail.
But grandma came to see me and she went my bail.
She took me in and she gave me good advice
Which I disregarded without thinking twice!
She said my behavior brought misery on myself.
But I wished she'd hang it up or put it on a shelf.
Dad's anger began to cool. . . to some degree
And he decided again to share his home with me.
At first I tried to control this temper of mine
But I had a bad habit of speaking my mind.
So I went back to mom's, but tempers did soar.
Soon I was told, "You can't live here any more!"
I stayed with different members of our family
But problems seemed eager to tag along with me!
I thought 'doing my own thing' was really quite cool.
So I deliberately disregarded every single rule.
Well! Take a look at me now, sitting here in jail.
I have no visitors and no chance of bail.
For I'm awaiting a trial . . . MURDER in the first degree.
Oh, Lord, please have mercy on a wretch like me!
If you can relate to this story of mine
Change your attitudes while there's still time!
Copyright © 2000
Mary Katherine Kohl
All Rights Reserved
Prov. 17:14 the beginning of strife is like releasing water; Therefore stop contention before a quarrel starts.Prov. 18:6-8 A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calls for blows. A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul. The words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles and they go down into the inmost body.
Prov. 18:19 A brother offended is harder to win than a strong city, and contentions are like the bars of a castle.
Prov. 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
Prov. 19:3 The foolishness of a man twists his way, and his heart frets against the Lord.
Prov. 19:19 A man of great wrath will suffer punishment; for if you rescue him, you will have to do it again.
Prov. 19:8 He who gets wisdom loves his own soul; He who keeps understanding will find good.
Prov. 19:16 He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, but he who is careless of his ways will die.
Prov.19:26 He who mistreats his father and chases away his mother is a son who causes shame and brings reproach.
Prov. 20:20 Whoever curses his father or his mother, his lamp will be put out in deep darkness.
Prov. 28:24 Whoever robs his father or his mother, and says, "It is no transgression," the same is companion to a destroyer.
Prov. 29:24-a Whoever is a partner with a thief hates his own life;
Prov. 21:7 The violence of the wicked will destroy them, because they refuse to do justice.
Prov. 29:11 A fool vents all his feelings, but a wise man holds them back.
Prov. 29:20 Do you see a man hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
Prov. 29:22 An angry man stirs up strife, and a furious man abounds in transgression.
Prov. 20:1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.
Prov. 21:10 The soul of the wicked desires evil; his neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.
Prov. 22:8 He who sows iniquity will reap sorrow. and the rod of his anger will fail.
Prov. 21:8 The way of a guilty man is perverse, but as for the pure, his work is right.
Prov. 27:12 A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself; the simple pass on and are punished.
Leviticus 19:18 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear a grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself . . .
I John 4:7-11 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
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