This is My Creed

"This is My Creed--

To live each day as though I may never see the morrow come; to be strict with myself, but patient and lenient with others; to give the advantage, but never ask for it; to be kind to all, but kinder to the less fortunate; to respect all honest employment; to remember that my life is made easier and better by the service of others and to be grateful.

To be tolerant and never arrogant; to treat all men with equal courtesy; to be true to my own in all things; to make as much as I can of my strength and the day's oppourtunity; and to meet disappointment without resentment.

To be friendly and helpful whenever possible; to do without display of temper of bitterness, all that fair conduct demands, and to keep my money free from the cunning or the shame of a hard bargain; to govern my actions so that I may fear neither reproach nor misunderstanding, nor words of malice or envy, and to maintain at whatever temporary cost, my own self respect.

This is my creed and my philosophy. I have failed it often and shall fail it many times again; but by these teachings I have lived to the best of my ability; laughed often, loved, suffered, grieved, found consolation, and have prospered. By friendships I have been enriched, and the home I have built has been happy."

I have heard "My Creed" read at the end of every summer at Waldemar since 1999. In 2008, I had the absolute honor of being the counselor chosen to recite "My Creed" at the Ideal Waldemar Girl ceremony. Even as a young girl, the words resonated with me in a way that I didn't really understand. Something about them rang true in my soul.

As the years have gone on, my understanding of "My Creed" has grown and deepened in ways that I brings such words as, "gratitude", "purpose", and "truth" to my mind. I have often said that the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and my time spent at Waldemar have shaped me into the woman I am today. I feel amazingly blessed to have had the chance to grow up with both of these influences in my life. The only thing I can think of to do to try and repay such blessings is to do my absolute best to be the most well rounded, loving, and faithful daughter of God that I can be.

This is my creed.