This is My Creed

My uncle Charles was an amazing man. He had a remarkable gift for music, and was constantly composing and arranging. He was a magnificent writer and had a masterful command of the English language. He had a phenomenal business sense– ever since he was a small boy his goal in life was to make one million dollars; over the years he made that mark more than seven times. He was a lifelong learner and a wonderful teacher. I can only hope and pray to come close to being the success he was. I may never have met the man, but I am touched by his legacy.
Here is a poem he wrote for his sons a few years back:
This is My Creed by Charles MaCurdy
This is my creed: to do some good,
To bear my ills without complaining
To press on as a brave man should
For honors that are worth the gaining
To seek no profits where I may,
By winning them, bring grief to others
To do some service day by day
In helping on my toiling brothers

This is my creed: To close my eyes
To little faults of those around me
To strive to be when each dies
Somewhat better than the morning found me
To ask for no unearned applause
To cross no river until I reach it
To see the merit of the cause
Before I follow those who preach it

This is my creed: To try to shun
The sloughs in which the foolish wallow
To lead where I may be the one
Whom weaker men should choose to follow
To keep my standards always high
To find my task and always do it
This is my creed– I wish that I could
learn to shape my action to it