Love And Inspiration

4 Sep

“Just don’t give up trying to do what you really want to do.  Where there is love and inspiration, I don’t think you can go wrong.”  ~ Ella Fitzgerald

There are many times that I use quotes for my Daily Reflection and do not think about the fact that some of my readers might not even know the person being quoted.  To a person of my age, the names are very familiar.  To the younger generations, they may mean nothing.  So, let me introduce you to the First Lady of Song and the Queen of Jazz: Lady Ella.  Those were all titles used for Ella Fitzgerald, a famous American Jazz Singer noted for her clarity of tone, her perfect diction, and her overall wonderful nature.

Fitzgerald did not arrive at fame easily.  She had a troubled childhood and adolescence and would talk about it often.  But she also had pluck, determination, and a clear vision of what she wanted to accomplish and where she wanted to go.  She embodied today’s quote, never giving up and living her life with love and inspiration.  When she died at the age of 79, she had achieved fourteen Grammy Awards as well as received both the National Medal of Arts and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.  She proved that anyone can do anything as long as that person sets his or her sights on it and works tirelessly and with love.  Those are two words that can be alien to us.

Tirelessly.  Even though we might know some people whom we would label workaholics, working “tirelessly” is not a trait that we would like to embrace.  We all look for leisure in our lives.  We dream about and live for vacations, days off, and breaks.  To think about the possibility of working tirelessly, well, tires us.

Love.  That is another loaded word.  There are many who do not like to talk about being people of love because love implies grave responsibility.  If we love someone, we need to desire the best for that person.  That often means action on our behalf.  Our human nature would rather spend that time on ourselves.  The world encourages the promotion of self over others as well.

Even if our human nature doesn’t want to hear it, we must work tireless and with great love.  If we do so while under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, we can accomplish so much for ourselves and for others.  Doing so would please God immensely.  Wouldn’t it be nice to know that we put a smile on God’s face?

FAITH ACTION:  If you know anyone that might be flagging in their faith or feeling low and dejected, be the love and inspiration that they need to make it through their day.  Doing so will make it easier for you to face the day as well.