If

If

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or, being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on";

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run -
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son!

~Rudyard Kipling

Think On These Things

I'll bet you're wondering what in the world this post is going to be about, right?

Well, it's not about anything, really. It's just that I am giving myself a break from thinking about the outcome of the election, and the protests against people who exercised their rights (by voting no against gay marriages,) with intimidation, threats, and pure hatred. I am mentally fatigued and emotionally drained by all the hatred that I am seeing manifested, in one way or another, against innocent people wanting nothing more than moral decency, and to be at peace with their fellow man.

The reason I posted this photo, is because I like it. It is a part of my kitchen, and it is whimsical with roosters, chickens, a painting with a country woman feeding her chickens, and a planter that looks like an old shoe, with a bird's nest full of baby birds, being fed by their Mama.

There's a bookcase with some of my very old, favorite cookbooks, and you can see the casserole dish which looks like a duck. It belonged to my Mama, and stirs some precious memories when I look at it.

Maybe, if you click on the picture you will be able to see the little Lincoln head bookends, steadying a picture of an old black couple saying grace over a meal, and a couple of small music boxes sculpted from copper.

There are a few other things there too, including a small plaque which says, "Lord, help me to remember that there is nothing that is going to happen to me today, that together you and I can't handle."

All these things bring comfort, and a sense of peace to me, so I will enjoy them, and not think about all the other stuff..at least, for now.

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honorable, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.~Philippians 4:8

Psalm 91

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;

Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.

A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.

Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.

Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;

There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.

For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.

Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.

He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.

With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.