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 impostors 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 worn-out 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 breathe 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!
Happy birthday to your son! That is a big milestone in each of your lives. My son turned 18 last December. I didn’t realize we had boys the same age. Mine is graduating highschool next month too. Scary!
What beautiful sentiments for your son! Happy birthday to him!
What a wonderful tribute! What a lucky mom to have such a great son! That is one of my favorite quotes!
Blessings, Lorraine
Well, that certainly put a tear in my eye this morning. A beautiful tribute to your wonderful son. Happy Birthday!!! xo Diana
Oh! Now Aunt Vanessa has been reduced to a blubbering mess first thing in the morning reading this! How on earth can this be possible? He is forever in my mind the little 4 year old ring bearer in our wedding, cracking everyone up with his one-liners and charming everyone with his personality. I guess he hasn’t changed that much after all! Happy Birthday to the most wonderful young man we know and don’t forget that just because you are getting older doesn’t mean that we are too! 😉
We love you so much and wish we could be there to celebrate this milestone with you!
Aunt Vanessa
Lovely tribute! Happy Birthday to your son!
Heather, your son sounds like a wonderful young man! Happy birthday to him (and his forever “Mommy”).
Your love and pride for your son show through so well and your choice of poetry is perfect for such a fine young man! Lucky you to have such a wonderful son and lucky world that you have raised a good man! ~ Maureen
Happy Birthday to your son. What a beautiful tribute!
A bittersweet day for you, isn’t it, Heather? Happy birthday to your boy–your man–your son! “If” is one of my favorite poems of all time. 🙂
That is truly one of my all time favorite poems…along with “Children Learn What They Live”….Happy Birthday to your son..and even though they get older and leave the nest one day…they will always know where home is….a place where he is loved unconditionally…you are a good mom!
And YOU haven’t aged one second.
He is a wonderful young man, happy birthday!!
Poppa and I are feeling quite emotional today because we can’t believe our beloved grandson is 18. We remember what a darling little boy he was – playing on the beach, traveling with us, riding Paco, playing in the barn and pasture, riding the go-cart and the ATV. Even more important than those days, is experiencing him as a young man and the big hugs he gave us after his Christmas visit and expressing his love to us. Now, THAT’s our boy!
We love that young man,
Poppa and Nonna
So sweet. Happy birthday to him. I have nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award. So if you could just hop on over to my blog to check out the rules that would be great. Thanks and congrats!
Happy Birthday to your son 🙂
Love and hugs from the ocean shores of California, Heather 🙂 🙂 🙂
Happy Birthday to your young handsome Man. Makes me sad as my teenager will be there in three years. Where does time go?
Happy Birthday to your boy… What is it about a boy and his mom? Different than a daughter…
So sweet and touching! A mother’s love is precious. “If” is one of my all-time favorite poems! Perfect.