My mother had a saying she used frequently throughout
Our childhood years
On occasion, we children, at times had gotten ourselves into a mess or a situation
and we would sit in a heap complaining
About our lot in life
My mother’s advice was always consistent
The words “pull yourselves up by your bootstraps.”
Which always meant the same thing.
A bootstrap is A loop (leather or other material) sewn at the side or top rear of a boot to help you pull on the boot
So our dear mother was telling us
to get ourselves out of the situation we no doubt got into because we didn’t listen to her in the first place
I haven’t heard that expression in years, but I think about
The hard lessons I learned and the experience I gained because of heeding my mother’s advice. Rather than fixing the problem, which she could have, she challenged us to use the brain God gave us and Pull ourselves up by our bootstraps.
BOOTSTRAPS
Life is challenging when we take a fall
It’s tempting to stay down, sit and bawl
My problem was never solved by acting that way
It’s only; lately that I recall what my mother would say
There’s only one thing left for you to do now
Pull yourself up by your bootstraps somehow
We all know what a bootstrap On a boot did
All my baby brothers wore boots when small kids
I used to hate to hear her say that phrase
When all I wanted was to fly into a rage
It’s only a lifetime later. I long to hear mama say
Molly, pull yourself up by your bootstraps. It will be okay
