“IF†– by Rudyard Kipling (apologies), revised and abridged by She™ (3/19/06)
If you can turn to God when all about you
Are cursing Him, and blaming it on you;
If He can trust you when your closest doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting, too;
If you can make one heap of all your blessings,
And go all-in on your first leap of faith,
And though you feel as though you might be guessing,
You know with certainty He keeps you safe…
If you can pray your heart and nerve and sinew
Will serve His 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!â€
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
His work begun in you, He will perfect it ^1,
Because He chose you for His friend, my son ^2.
1 Philippians 1:6
2 John 15:15-16; Ephesians 1:4