When our Grandpa passed away (Apr1st/83), Dad shared his eulogy with all of us kids, suggesting we might adopt it's message as our own. I have kept my copy to this day & reading it now, it seems to have passed seamlessly to Dad & I promise Dad, I am striving . . . :
My Creed:
"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 honour 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 emnity to aught I show,
To be an honest, generous foe;
To play my little part, not whine
That greater honours are not mine.
This, I believe, is all I need for my philosophy and creed."
E.A. Guest