To live as gently as I can;
To be, no matter where, a man;
To take what comes of good or ill
And cling to faith and honor still;
To do my best, and let that stand
The record of my brain and hand;
And then, should failure come to me,
Still work and hope for victory.
To have no secret place wherein
I stoop unseen to shame or sin;
To be the same when I’m alone
As when my every deed is known;
To live undaunted, unafraid
Of any step that I have made;
To be without pretense or sham
Exactly what men think I am.
To leave some simple mark behind
To keep my having lived in mind;
If enmity to aught I show,
To be an honest, generous foe,
To play my little part, nor whine
That greater honors are not mine.
This, I believe, is what I need
For my philosophy and creed.
A favorite poem of mine by Edgar A. Guest
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Jessie Jeanine 
December 27, 2011 at 8:40 pm
Hope you had a joyous and peaceful Christmas. Just wanted to let you know that I have nominated you for a Candle Lighters Award. You don’t need to do anything for this one. For more please see here http://wp.me/p1GBe4-bw
December 27, 2011 at 10:52 pm
Happy Holidays my friend and thank you so much for this wonderful blessing! I really appreciate this particular award and am so honored to be nominated again :)
Please be patient with my nominations friends, as I will get caught up on them as soon as I can.
December 27, 2011 at 7:54 pm
“To be an honest, generous foe” has always intrigued me and encouraged me to stand up for what I believe, but in this manner: honest and generous!. Thank for so much for reminding us of these truths in the Edgar Guest poem I need to remember more often.
December 27, 2011 at 10:53 pm
You have such a wonderful way of wording your lessons to us granbee and I appreciate you, my friend :) Blessings and Happy Holidays to you!
December 26, 2011 at 10:39 am
Thank you for sharing this special poem. It offers such an honest and courageous view of grace, compassionate living, humility and abidance with the will of God; all in the name of understanding the deepest Love and Faith in is eternal Truth and the greatest good of Our Lord.
December 26, 2011 at 7:00 pm
Amen!
December 26, 2011 at 10:03 am
Thanks for sharing, Jessie!! This is a really lovely poem!! :)
December 26, 2011 at 6:58 pm
Thank you Mike and blessings!
December 25, 2011 at 1:31 am
Edgar was my husband’s great, great uncle! How crazy is that! :)
Great Post! God Bless You!
December 25, 2011 at 5:36 pm
LOVE it :) Blessings to you as well my friend and have a joyful Christmas!
December 25, 2011 at 12:14 am
It all boils down to “Love others as I have loved you.” Amen!
December 25, 2011 at 5:35 pm
I agree Jeanne :) Merry Christmas and God Bless!
December 24, 2011 at 10:06 pm
Thank you for sharing! Definitely words to live by.
December 25, 2011 at 5:34 pm
Merry Christmas!