I was taught real young what fear was

I was taught that before I could talk

By the way my mother would swoop me up

I learned it from her eyes

I learned it from the beating of her heart

It was a lesson my mother taught me

 

The first thing I feared was the fire

Hells fire to be specific

I learned it should be feared

From the Bible

From my mother

From God

It was a lesson my mother taught me

 

The second thing I feared was God

For he had the power to smite me

But I soon learned people are much more frightening

God you see is quite noble

He loves you

Even if you give up on him

It was a lesson my mother taught me

 

The third thing I feared was death

Even though it loomed far ahead of me

But death you see means little

But that you must return to once you came

A beautiful paradise waits after a wholesome life

So says my God

It was lesson my mother taught me

 

The fourth thing I feared was loneliness

For I had just looked death in the face

I watched him take away my grandmother

While I held her hand

I wondered who’d be next

But when you have faith

You’re never alone

It was a lesson my mother taught me

 

The fifth thing I feared was boys

God couldn’t help me with that

These creatures were new

Different

And rough

But boys are people too

Just as confused about me as I am by them

It was a lesson my mother taught me

 

The sixth thing I feared was the future

Rapidly closing in on me

But with faith and hardwork

You can accomplish

Whatever it is that needs doing

And plant the seed of a bright future

Applying oneself is key

It was a lesson my mother taught me

 

The seventh thing I feared was life’s meaning

Life was pulsing

Alive

And moving forward at a rapid pace

But what was it for

I prayed upon that

Asking the why, not the how

Asking to see, not to hear

With time

And friends

And family

And love

And loss

I realized the meaning of life

Is to make one

It was a lesson I learned on my own