Are You Doing it Right?

A serious matter I heard on my way,

‘Twas a father and daughter discussing.

The father was firm in his steadfast decree

That she go to church instead of sluffing.

But the daughter bluntly refused as she said,

“I won’t go to church, and that’s for sure.

It used to be good, and it used to be fun.

But I don’t learn a thing anymore.”

“I’m sick of the fasting, and praying, and stuff.

It just doesn’t go as it should.

They certainly ask us to do way too much.

I’m supposed to be perfectly good!”

The father stopped walking and turned to his daughter,

A serious look crossed his face.

For he had a message so tender to give her,

Before she ran life’s toughest race.

“Do you like playing soccer?” The father asked daughter.

She nodded her head, “Yeah, so what?”

“Then you’re doing it right.” He spoke quietly now.

“Or else you wouldn’t play day and night.”

“Do you like swimming?” Question two now he asked.

“Yes, I like to do it a lot too.”

“Then you’re doing it right.” Simply said, that was done.

“Or else it would not be fun for you.”

“Now, do you like fasting?” His eyes piercing hers.

“No, I hate it.” Was her swift reply.

“It’s hard, and it’s painful, I don’t like not eating.

It’s too much to ask me to try.”

The father looked out at the distant sun setting,

The orange, red, yellow, and blue.

“Then doing it right, you are not.” He said softly.

“It’s hard, yes, but swimming is too.

“It took you three years to learn and love soccer.

You couldn’t do that in one day.

But after you’d tried just as hard as you could,

Then soccer you finally played.”

“You can’t do things halfway and hope to like them.

It takes work, courage, faith, and some luck.

You have to work hard as you possibly can,

At that fasting, and praying, and stuff.”

Tara J. Howard

Copyright 2010