The Mirror of Life
A wonderful poem about repentance, making wise choices, thinking ‘celestial’, and parental love and care.
Till two, I stayed the other night, till three the night before,
. So cautiously I tiptoed in, with mother at the door;
Cold anger surged within my breast, to think that she would sit
. And wait for me. So big was I. Upset? I bit my lip.
I passed her by and went upstairs, to get a little sleep,
. But soon my mother’s gentle form, seemed silently to creep
Into my little bedroom, and I knew she was there.
. I saw her pale lips quiver as she breathed a little prayer –
A prayer of thanks that I was home, all safe and quite secure.
. She asked of God that He would keep me good and clean and pure.
Long hours after she had gone, I lay in troubled thought,
. Just wondering what my mother knew, of follies I had wrought.
And if I’d ever do a thing, to bring to that sweet face
. The wrinkles or the graying hair or shadows of disgrace.
And I began to wonder too, just what my life would be
. Without my loving mother there, to love and care for me.
And then, just like my mother, I too, breathed out a prayer
. For God to bless her also, and to keep her in His care.
With prayer the anger left me then, that surged within my breast,
. Both weary and exhausted now, I closed my eyes in rest.
As I slept I dreamed a dream, it almost made me cry,
. I stood out on the sidelines and I watched myself go by.
I, first of all, then saw myself, back in pre-earthly life
. With hosts of others, sons of God; I saw the mighty strife;
For Satan’s hosts were angry and they waged a hostile fight.
. And full of pride I saw myself, safe on the side of right;
Still full of great excitement when that victory was won,
. I saw that in the battle there, my fight had just begun,
For I would come to mother earth where Satan and his men
. Would try my soul to conquer, and I would fight again!
I chose a loving mother, and a father good and true,
. To guide my footsteps in my youth and teach me what to do.
I love a fair young woman there, in that pre-earthly life;
. We pledged to meet while on the earth, where she would be my wife.
If we could fight and conquer there, then we could surely be
. Sealed by God’s holy priesthood, for time and eternity.
I left that world of spirits, convinced that I would pray
. For God to help me conquer, as I had conquered there that day.
“Take prayer to be your armor!” was the counsel Father gave,
. “It is the key to heaven, your soul it now can save,
From Satan’s wicked clutches, for he’ll try with all his might
. To lead you in forbidden paths, so pray and seek and fight!”
My vision changed then and I saw the spirits come to earth,
. I saw my loving mother there who gave me mortal birth;
I felt her loving kindness and saw her gentle care,
. I saw her teach me at her knee to say a tender prayer,
A plea for God to bless me in all I do or say,
. And guidance for my footsteps in the straight and narrow way.
As I stood on the sideline there, to watch myself that day,
. I saw the guardian angel whom God gave to guide my way;
He would whisper deep within my breast, and tell me what was right,
. And he did his very best to lead me in eternal light.
Then I saw Satan’s forces who were working night and day
. To tempt me into crooked paths and lead my soul astray.
And so I stood there all alone in some part of the sky,
. Standing on the sideline while I watched myself go by.
I was surprised to see me there, not knowing they were near,
. Obeying their suggestions without doubt and without fear.
They first made me to feel ashamed, to kneel before God’s throne,
. And plead for Him to be my guide and leave me not alone.
Then, when I ceased to humble my bold, stubborn soul with prayer,
. They smiled. The next came easy, for I began to dare
To disobey my parents, and to break the Sabbath Day,
. And not attend my meetings, yes, in short, to go ‘his’ way.
I dared to smoke a cigarette, and take a sip of wine.
. I felt just like king supreme, Ah, yes, I was doing fine.
As I stood on the side lines there, to watch myself go by,
. I saw a smile curl Satan’s lips, He winked a wicked eye.
Grinning with an evil smile, his cohorts he did tell —
. “We will lead him safely down into the depths of hell.”
I was in hell right at that time, while standing in the sky
. And watching, from the sidelines there, my blinded self go by.
Hell? Where can hell be greater, than in pain of sinful men
. Who know their lives are failures to what they could have been.
I saw while seeking pleasure, I entered a garden fair
. Where grew magnificent flowers, sweet perfume filled the air.
I smelt the gorgeous fragrance, caressed the petals sweet,
. I picked one from its tender stem and cast it at my feet.
All crushed and bruised and broken there, along my thoughtless way,
. I left a trail of pain and gloom along my path that day.
I then heard Satan chuckle, “His soul we soon will win,
. For he has now committed there much grave and evil sin.”
I looked back to the garden; I saw not flowers rare,
. But friends who’d loved and trusted me, young maidens sweet and fair.
Among the disappointed friends I saw my sweetheart’s face,
. I stood ashamed, dishonored, sad, bowed down in deep disgrace.
I’d robbed her of her virtue, old Satan had his way,
. I’d forfeited my rarest gift, for pleasure there that day.
As I stood on the sidelines there, no mortal tongue can tell,
. Just how I writhed with anguish in the bitterness of hell.
As I stood on the sideline then, a greater glimpse was given
. Of life and its vast meaning and the peace and love of heaven
Enjoyed by those who conquer the yearnings of the flesh,
. And in God’s Holy Kingdom they live among the blessed.
No more did Satan’s evil power, with them hold any sway,
. For they were heirs of glory, on the Resurrection Day.
Then I saw people shackled as in a prison tomb,
. By vile and evil habits, leading to their doom.
These vile, enslaving habits followed souls beyond the grave,
. Their spirits warped with passion and appetites depraved.
Death had not taken from them a craving for that weed,
. And drunkards, from their habits, were never, ever freed.
I saw long years of waiting, the mistakes of life to pay;
. Long years of gloom and heartache, before the Righteous Day.
I learned while in that vision, one thing I want to tell —
. The righteous make their heaven and sinners make their hell.
Now I could see most clearly, God’s loving, thoughtful care
. In giving to His children, the Word of Wisdom rare.
I awoke and vowed that moment, that I would turn around,
. For in the darkness of the night, I was on evil ground.
Right then and there I wept with joy, thanked God, and you ask ‘why’?
. He stood me on the sideline, and I watched myself go by.
He showed me that to conquer, I must not forget to pray
. For God’s concern and loving care — I must learn to obey!
Obey the ones who teach me and shun forbidden things
. As I would shun a serpent, they all have deadly stings.
The Priesthood I must cherish, which God has given me,
. To help me conquer Satan, from sin to keep me free.
Now when I spend an evening, I never stay out late,
. The Tempter shall not lure me, or bring an awful fate.
I notice that my sweetheart, has deep and loving joy,
. She has more faith and trust and love, that she’s not just a ‘toy’
That soon will be forgotten as to her I say ‘good-night’.
. Much earlier than in early times, her eyes still sparkle bright
And when I meet my mother now, so early at our door,
. She welcomes me with kiss and smile, and waits for me no more.
And I thank God she showed me there, before it was too late,
. That I must conquer Satan now, avoid a dreadful fate.
And I thank Him for loving care, alone there in the sky,
. For standing with me, arm in arm, to watch myself go by.
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