Stiff Upper Lip

When you have read "These Happy Golden Years," by Laura Ingalls Wilder *like* fifty times you sometimes think of things in her terminology.

While teaching a small school under difficult circumstances Pa told Laura to keep a stiff upper lip. What in the world does that mean?

Well, to me it means to set in firmly on what you already know, to hold fast to the solid things of your life, even if they are abstract.

These last weeks haven't been easy for this family. Crazy schedules and unfinished dreams, health issues and an over-arching sense of doom.

I had a nice chat with a dear friend today, and we talked about the two realities of our lives. Read the headlines and your datebook and you may get pretty blue.  That certainly is one reality.

There is then the one who trusts that an awesome God cares about even the littlest of matters. Maybe 10 or 100 thousand people are filing for unemployment each month. God knows each story. God is waiting for each one to call upon Him to provide. Will He? You know the answer!

Though 10,000 fall to my right and 10,000 fall to my left the Lord will sustain ME. That is the reality that sustains me in the gloom of this dark world.

Live in trust. Live in peaceful reality that God sustains and provides. This is the better thing.

And keep a stiff upper lip.

Keep A Stiff Upper Lip.

If hard luck your spirit is riling, Just face the old world all a-smiling         Keep a stiff upper lip. If your pocket is empty don't blow it, If your feelings are wounded don't show, it. If gloomy let nobody know it--         Keep a stiff upper lip.   If tears come pull out your bandanna, As you dry them just sing a hosanna         Keep a stiff upper lip. It your sky is all clouded with sorrow, There comes soon a brighter tomorrow, Just lend all your troubles, don't borrow         Keep a stiff upper lip.   If your clothing is tattered and torn, 'Tis a worse thing to look all forlorn         Keep a stiff upper lip. Let your spirits be happy and free, Then the people who meet you won't see. The old hat or the patch on your knee         Keep a stiff upper lip.   If at a swift gait you've been running To escape from a fellow that's dunning.         Keep a stiff upper lip. Let me tell you 'tis better to chase him, And coming up boldly to face him, Than cross o'er the street and thus pass hin         Keep a stiff upper lip.   If you have been pacing the floor O'er your debts till your feet are all         Keep a stiff upper lip. Lot the other man pace it awhile, Until he is ready to smile, And give you another fair trial         Keep a stiff upper lip.   It times become harder and harder, And there's only a crust in the larder         Keep a stiff upper lip. Tho the sheriff grabs hold of your collar, And threatens to take your last dollar. Don't whine like a baby and "holler"--         Keep a stiff upper lip.   If you're honest and faithful and true, Your friends will be faithful to you--         Keep a stiff upper lip. Don't cheat, don't be tricky, don't lie, And never, no, never say die, Keep heaven and hope in your eye--         Keep a stiff upper lip. __J. M. Cavaness.

Jayhawker Juleps
J. M. Cavaness
(Chanute: Tribune Pub. Co. 1913)