# 12

"Life is not the was it is supposed to be. It's the way it is. The way you cope with it is what makes the difference." Virginia Satir

This Motivational Moment will contain two parts. First, several weeks ago I mentioned a song by Chris Rice, “Life Means So Much”, (2000-Clumsy Fly Music). The words to the song are found in the first part.

The second part was sent to me by Tom Scheller. On this special American celebration, life held a special meaning to those 56 who signed the Declaration of Independence.

Life Means So Much
Every day is a journal page
Every man holds a quill and ink
And there's plenty of room for writing in
All we do and believe and think

So will you compose a curse
Or will today bring the blessings
Fill the pages with rhyming verse
Or some random sketchings

(chorus)
Teach us to count the days
Teach us to make the days count
Lead us in better ways
Somehow our souls forgot
Life means so much, Life means so much, Life means so much

Every day is a bank account
And time is our currency
So no one's rich, nobody's poor
We get twenty four hours each

So how are you gonna spend
Will you invest or squander
Try to get ahead
Or help someone who's under

(Chorus)
Has anybody lived who knew the value of a life?
And didn't he give his own to show the worth of yours and mine?
Every day is a gift you've been given
Make the most of the time every minute you're livin.

The Declaration of Independence

Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence?

Five were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died.

Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned.

Two lost sons serving in the Revolutionary Army.

Nine died from wounds or hardships of the War.

They signed and pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor.
What kind of men were they?

Twenty four were lawyers and jurists.

Eleven were merchants.

Nine were farmers and plantation owners.

All men of education and means. But they all signed the Declaration knowing full well that the penalty would be death if captured.

Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships swept away by the British Navy. He had to sell his home and properties to pay his debts. He died in rags.

Thomas McKean was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family constantly. He served in Congress without pay while his family was kept in hiding. All his possessions were taken from him, and poverty was his reward.

Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer, Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and Middleton.

At the Battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson Jr., noted that British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters. He quietly urged General Washington to open fire.

The home was destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt.

Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The enemy jailed his wife. She died within a few months.

John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying. Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and gristmill were laid to waste. For more than a year he lived in forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and children missing. A few weeks later he died of exhaustion and a broken heart.

Norris and Livingston suffered similar fates.

Such were the stories of the American Revolution. These were not wild-eyed, rabble rousing ruffians. They were soft spoken men of means and education.

They had security, but they valued liberty more. Standing tall, straight, and unwavering, they pledged:

"For the support of this declaration, with firm reliance on the protection of divine providence, we mutually pledge to each other, our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor."

They gave you and me a free and independent America .

REMEMBER: Freedom is never free!

Contact Tom at: tomhughes@motivationNmore.com

Visit the Motivational Moments Archive

Subscribe to "Motivational Moments" Today