If you can start the day without caffeine, if you can always be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains ... if you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles ... if you can eat the same food every day and be grateful for it ... if you can understand when your loved ones are too busy to give you any time ... if you can take criticism and blame without resentment ... if you can resist treating a rich friend better than a poor friend ... if you can face the world without lies and deceit ... if you can overlook it when those you love take it out on you when, through no fault of yours, something goes wrong ... If you can conquer tension without medical help ... If you can say honestly that deep in your heart you have no prejudice against creed, color, religion or politics ... Then, my friend, you are almost as good as your dog.
Robert Morgan Preacher's Sourcebook for Creative Sermon Illustrations