Inspirational Passage: Just for Today (1921; different passage 1880)
Dan Goncharoff
thegonch at GMAIL.COM
Wed Jul 25 22:54:17 UTC 2012
I assume you mean something more than Matthew 6:25-34?
Do Not Be Anxious
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will
eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is
not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into
barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value
than they?
27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of
life?
28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the
field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin,
29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one
of these.
30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and
tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you
of little faith?
31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall
we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’
32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father
knows that you need them all.
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these
things will be added to you.
34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be
anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
DanG
On Wed, Jul 25, 2012 at 6:22 PM, Garson O'Toole
<adsgarsonotoole at gmail.com>wrote:
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> Sender: American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster: Garson O'Toole <adsgarsonotoole at GMAIL.COM>
> Subject: Inspirational Passage: Just for Today (1921; different
> passage
> 1880)
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> I have been asked to trace a popular short inspirational text titled
> "Just for Today". The work begins:
>
> [Begin excerpt]
> Just for today I will try to live through this day only, and not
> tackle all my problems at once. I can do something for twelve hours
> that would appall me if I felt that I had to keep it up for a
> lifetime.
> [End excerpt]
>
> Here is a link to an instance on the website of an organization for
> "families and friends of alcoholics". This instance is credited to
> Kenneth L. Holmes. Many instances are available online and the
> attributions vary.
>
> http://www.nhal-anon.org/Just4Today.html
>
> A version of this piece was printed in "How to Stop Worrying and Start
> Living" by Dale Carnegie which was first published in 1948.
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_to_Stop_Worrying_and_Start_Living
>
> Carnegie credited the words to Sibyl F. Partridge, but I think this is
> incorrect. There is a different 1880 work that is called "Just for
> Today" that has been connected to Partridge. Some details are given
> further below.
>
> The earliest instance of closely matching text I have located is dated
> 1921. The writer was Frank Crane. I would welcome earlier examples of
> similar text.
>
> Cite: 1921 May 29, Boston Globe, DR CRANE SAYS: Just for Today by
> Frank Crane, Page E4, Boston, Massachusetts. (ProQuest)
>
> [Begin excerpt]
>
> Just for Today
>
> Here are ten resolutions to make when you awake in the morning.
>
> They are Just for One Day. Think of them not as a life task but as a day's
> work.
>
> These things will give you pleasure. Yet they require will power. You
> don't need resolutions to do what is easy.
>
> 1. Just for Today, I will try to live through this day only, and not
> tackle my whole life-problem at once. I can do some things for twelve
> hours that would appall me if I felt I had to keep them up for a
> lifetime.
>
> 2. Just for Today, I will be Happy. This assumes that what Abraham
> Lincoln said is true, that "most folks are about as happy as they make
> up their minds to be." Happiness is from Within; it is not a matter of
> Externals.
>
> 3. Just for Today, I will Adjust myself to what Is, and not try to
> Adjust everything to my own desires. I will take my family, my
> business, and my luck as they come, and fit myself to them.
>
> 4. Just for Today, I will take care of my Body. I will exercise it,
> care for it, and nourish it, and not abuse it nor neglect it; so that
> it will be a perfect machine for my will.
>
> 5. Just for Today, I will try to strengthen my mind, I will study. I
> will learn something useful, I will not be a mental loafer all day. I
> will read something that requires effort, though and concentration.
>
> 6. Just for Today, I will exercise my Soul. In three ways, to wit:
> (a) I will do somebody a good turn and not get found out. If anybody
> knows of it, it will not count.
> (b) I will do at least two things I don't want to do, as William
> James suggests just for exercise.
> (c) I will not show any one that my feelings are hurt. They may be
> hurt, but Today I will not show it.
>
> 7. Just for To-day, I will be agreeable. I will look as well as I can,
> dress as becomingly as possible, talk low, act courteously, be
> liberal with flattery, criticize not one bit nor find fault
> withanything, and not try to regulate nor improve anybody.
>
> 8. Just for Today, I will have a Programme. I will write down just
> what I expect to do every hour. I may not follow it exactly, but I'll
> have it. It will save me from the two pests Hurry and Indecision.
>
> 9. Just for Today, I will have a quiet half hour, all by myself, and
> relax. During this half hour, some time, I will think of God, so as to
> get a little more perspective to my life.
>
> 10. Just for Today, I will be Unafraid. Especially I will not be
> afraid to be Happy, to enjoy what is Beautiful, to love and to believe
> that those I love love me.
>
> (Copyright, 1921 by Frank Crane)
>
> [End excerpt]
>
> Text that closely matched the passage above was published in the
> Christian Science Monitor in 1932. Frank Crane's name was not
> mentioned. Instead, the words were attributed to Hugh Barret Dobbs.
>
> Cite: 1932 July 20, Christian Science Monitor, Section: Daily
> Features, For the Scrapbook: Just for Today by Hugh Barret Dobbs, Page
> 11, Column 6, Boston, Massachusetts. (ProQuest)
>
>
> There appears to be some confusion with a different earlier work
> containing the recurring line "Just for to-day". The instance below in
> 1880 ends with the identifier "S. M. X." These initials apparently
> refer to Sister Mary Xavier and this name apparently refers to Sybil
> Farish Partridge. (I have not tried to gather evidence about these
> identity claims yet.)
>
> Earlier examples of similar text would be welcome.
>
> Cite: 1880 January, The Messenger of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Organ
> of The Apostleship Of Prayer, Volume 7, To-day, Quote Page 20, Burns
> and Oates, London. (Google Books full view)
>
> To=Day.
>
> Dignare, Domine, die isto, sine peccato nos custodire.
>
> Lord, for to-morrow and its needs
> I do not pray;
> Keep me, my God, from stain of sin,
> Just for to-day
>
> Let me both diligently work
> And duly pray;
> Let me be kind in word and deed,
> Just for to day.
>
> Let me be slow to do my will,
> Prompt to obey;
> Help me to mortify my flesh,
> Just for to-day.
>
> Let me no wrong or idle word
> Unthinking, say;
> Set Thou a seal upon my lips,
> Just for to-day.
>
> Let me in season, Lord, be grave,
> In season, gay;
> Let me be faithful to Thy grace,
> Just for to-day,
>
> And if to-day my tide of life
> Should ebb away,
> Give me Thy sacraments divine,
> Sweet Lord, to-day.
>
> In Purgatory's cleansing fires
> Brief be my stay;
> O bid me, if to-day I die,
> Go home to-day.
>
> So, for to-morrow and its needs
> I do not pray;
> But keep me, guide me, love me, Lord,
> Just for to-day
>
> S. M. X
>
> Garson
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
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>
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