At the age of 60, my mom took a creative writing course
and wrote this for an assignment. It was
read at her funeral and several family members asked that it be included in
this collection—so here it is. This was
Flora.
My Credo ... What I Believe In ...
I believe
in faith. Faith in my religion and
people. I believe in God and know that
everything and everybody on this earth has a reason for being. This marvelous creation is so beautifully
interwoven that we find truth, logic, and a perfect sequence of people and
events on this earth.
Take the earth with its intricate rivers, mountains, fields, etc. Take the sky above -- take man -- take
woman. You must believe in God if
you give any thought to the universe.
Take faith -- you have to have love, respect and innate honesty to have
faith. Faith in a husband, children,
friends, relatives. Faith in God and
thankfulness for our being. I, thank
God, I have great faith in all these things and people. I am grateful to my parents and family for
instilling this love and faith in me and for giving me the ability to be a
contented and grateful person, and I am truly grateful for all my blessings. I
believe I am essentially a happy and well adjusted person, which, in this great
wide world, unfortunately, isn't too prevalent.
The secret is contentment, and I am content because I keep busy and try
to help and work hard in my own small way, to do whatever I can to help people
and humanity.
My background keeps me affiliated with Jews and Judaism and everything that
will lead to a better and more humane world.
Help -- if only more people would respond and give a helping hand where
and when it is needed. Just visiting
sick people and doing a small chore, even only offering to help can be so
heartening and cheering.
Again and again, I believe I am here for a purpose, not just an ornament,
and if I can be of use in any way, I should use my energy and give of
myself. I abound in energy and try to
use it to good purpose. Love of husband,
children, grandchildren, sisters, relatives and friends is one of the strongest
parts of my makeup. "You get what
you give" is a common saying. What
I receive in love and devotion more than makes up for whatever I do.
My father used to have great faith and he used to tell us at the beginning
of the year (Rosh Hashonnah and Yom Kippur) “iss shtait geshribben” it is
written -- who is to live and who is to die.
I am a firm believer in this.
Fate -- fatalism, call it what you may, life is ordained this way, and
no matter where or whatever -- when your time comes, it is inevitable.
Flora Weller, 1972