These are tough times, but we are tough people and we will win the battle if we are faithful to him who gave us life. Have you noticed that it is often in our deepest sorrow that we learn our greatest lessons?

You don’t have to win every battle in life; you need only to win one. If you believe that God is our creator and Jesus died to save us from our sins, and if we follow him we will be triumphant through all eternity. I keep telling you that there is always a kind voice speaking to you, telling you the right thing to do or say, if we will only listen. If you think you know it all, you might as well surrender because you have lost the battle.

Edward A. Guest shared with us his creed. He wrote:

“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

and 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 all I need for my

philosophy and creed.”

Sometimes, I think that life is better than I deserve. I do know in my heart that the best is yet to be. Don’t forget: “The hills of Zion yield a thousand sacred sweets, before we reach the heavenly fields, or walk the golden streets.”

Always give life your very best, and put a smile on your face and in the distance you can hear that soft voice say, “You have given your best and the best will come back to you.” I still say, the little path that leads to home is the best road you will ever travel. There is no better path to travel. Home is where love lives.

Someone said, “Only a dad with a tired face, coming home from the daily race, bringing little of gold or fame, to show how well he has played the game; but glad in his heart that his own rejoice, to see him come and to hear his voice.” No man will regret giving his best.

“Stone by stone a wall is made, and each stone must lie square. Petal by petal a rose unfolds, and each petal must be fair. Little by little a faith is built, day by day it grows, stronger at last than a wall of stone and lovelier than a rose.”

Let this be our prayer for today:

God grant me kindly thought

And patience throughout the day,

And in the things I’ve wrought

Let no man living say

That hate’s firm mark has stained

What little joy I’ve gained.

God grant me the strength to face

Undaunted day or night;

To stoop to no disgrace

To win my little fight;

Let me be, when it is over,

As manly as before!

Robert V. Ozment is a retired United Methodist minister.