TAKE ME AS I AM - Inspired by Mary J. Blige's 'Take Me As I Am' - by William Fredrick Cooper
(Written December 1, 2007)

Take Me As I Am, flawed in human body, yet good in heart. I'll make my mistakes and be talked about constantly, but at days end I'll still stand tall. Accepting my past and the errors thereof, through God's will He has not let me fall, for only He judges my imperfections with love.

Live your lives with no regrets, and enjoy the journey of peaks and valleys, triumphs and turmoil mired in a measured mixture of joy and pain. It's done this way so that we cherish the little things everyday offers us. Being lost and sometimes found, Can you take all of me, as I am? Emotions govern my heart, leading to checkered decisions. Life has taught me that, in the best and worst of times. But I wouldn't change a thing, for it's who I am. Sing, Mary Sing: I CAN ONLY BE ME.

If the skies were sunny all the time, the beauty of life would be missed, for it's in the struggles where our inner spirit is constructed. Human Will. Determination. Faith. Integrity. Remorse. Forgiveness. And most importantly, LOVE. While others may lose faith in you, the Lord always finds his wayward sheep and steers them back on course in spite of the criticisms of others. Rebuilding a paradise lost within, life becomes better with a paradise regained, as the lessons from mistakes imperfect humans judge you for are forgiven in His eyes. you are taught peace during times of tribulation, and acceptance of others, for they are as flawed as you are.

Put your life in everything you do, so that people can feel you. Becoming older and wiser from the year before, mistakes will still be made, but they won't be the same ones from yesteryear. Forgive yourself, even if others don't forgive you. Accept what you can't change due to mistake, and alter what you can in the eyes of God. Unlike Humans, He takes all of us while human judgment wants nothing at all.

Haters aside, find that solid ground that brings peace. If others question your morals and methods to your madness, don't let the fact that an exodus might be chosen; leave their center with a smile and only wish great things. After all, you still have a life to lead, one filled with the anticipation of new beginnings while fulfilling the life He has in store for us. After all, each second of the day is only lived once, so errors are immediately in the past once a new second arrives. Don't press the rewind button on things from the past and relive the pain, for it will be repeated. Make that a motto for every new year and embrace those that embrace you. Positive energy feeds off of more positive energy, this in spite of everyday imperfections in us all.

Move into the new year with a clean slate for all, and you will find that your slate too, is cleaned. Learn to love yourself and others unconditionally, and you will find that the negative energy attempting to burrow into your life with be covered with Love. For those, and other will possess the energy in you. That is, if you accept people for who they really are.

Take Me As I Am, flawed in human body, yet good in heart. I'll make my mistakes and be talked about constantly, but in the end I'll still stand tall. Accepting my past and the errors thereof, through God's will He has not let me fall, for only He judges my imperfections with love.

Happy holidays...