Confide Ye Aye in Providence by James Ballantyne

Confide ye aye in Providence, For Providence is kind, And bear ye a' life's changes Wi' a calm and tranquil mind. Tho' press'd and hemm'd on every side, Hae faith an ye'll win through, For ilka blade o' grass Keps its ain drap o' dew. Gin reft frae friends, or cross'd in love, As whiles nae doubt ye've been, Grief lies deep hidden in your heart, or tears flow frae your een; Believe it for the best, an' trow there's gude in store for you. For ilka glade o' grass keps its ain drap o' dew. In lang lang days o' simmer, when the clear an' cloudless sky Refuses ae wee drap o' rain to nature parch'd and dry, The genial night wi' balmy breath gars verdure spring anew, An' ilka blade o' grass keps its ain drap o' dew So lest 'mid Fortune's sunshine we should feel owre proud an' hie, An' in our pride forget to wipe the tear frae poortith's e'e; Some wee dark clouds o' sorrow come, we ken na whence or how, But ilka blade o' grass keps its ain drap o' dew. English translation.

When I was a small child living with my Grandmother and Grandfather I loved looking into Granny's china cabinet, amongst the treasures was the plaque pictured above. My Gran threw in the odd Scot-Gaelic word in when talking, particularly when she had intense feelings about something and I recall with fondness many of her one liners... she will live in my heart forever. My Great-grandmother, Marion raised her daughter to be thrifty and wise, good strong virtues.

Apart from the time I lived with Gran I didn't spend a lot of time with her, yet she was such a huge influence on who I became, she gave me some strength and confidence in myself and over the years in my heart and dreams I hear her encouraging words just when I need them.