I wrote about this before focusing on just the learning. The motto you are taught in the FFA, much like other organizations is repeated over and over. You are taught the motto almost until you get tired of hearing it, but here it is 21 years later and I can still recite it with confidence. “Learning to do, doing to learn, earning to live, and living to serve.”
Learning to do is the beginning of the motto and one of my favorite lines. I love to learn, always have, and strive to learn something new everyday. I have an almost insatiable need to know. I want to have all the details and be able to do everything anyone else can. I know these are not feasible goals but it doesn’t stop me from striving for them.
Doing to learn is one of the hardest parts for me. I grew up with one of my greatest influences telling me if you’re not the best there’s no reason to do it. So yes I want to learn everything, but if I’m not good at it I don’t want to do it. Sometimes we have to do things we aren’t good at and we don’t like so we will know how to do it.
Earning to live is another one I struggle with. I don’t struggle with earning, I am not scared to work until I have nothing left in me to make ends meet. I have always struggled to make sure my family never wanted for anything. Where I struggle is knowing when to stop earning and start living. My youngest son put it in perspective last week. We were talking about the things I had to do, the work I had scheduled and the jobs that would hopefully be coming. At which time he said “Daddy I wish you didn’t have to work so hard during the summer to provide, that way maybe you could spend some time with me.” I don’t feel like I have failed as a father, but I definitely feel like I have allowed the most important pieces fall to the wayside so I could provide them the kind of life they haven’t even asked for.
Living to serve, the last and in my opinion the most important parts of the motto. I have always tried to do for anyone I was in a position to help. One of the greatest feelings is doing for someone not wanting or expecting anything in return. It truly pleases the soul. This morning during church service my pastor said “Saved people, serve people” to me that couldn’t be more perfectly said. As followers, Christians, saved people we are called to love and in my opinion you can never love someone anymore than when you are selflessly serving them.
So this week as we move through the hustle and bustle of life, learn something new, do something to get better at it, go to work so you can live, but don’t forget to live, and most importantly get out there and serve someone. Love them until they ask you why, then tell them about he who loves you first. I love you.
bradglenn79 