Anyway

It’s hard to decide which of my blogs to post this poem on. It can easily apply to so many audiences, so many situations. But today, I’m finding it more closely resembles what it takes to live a life like ours and be able to stand before the Lord someday, absolutely certain that we gave it our best shot. It’s really hard. Really hard to actually put these words into action. When we give of ourselves and others throw it back at us…will we continue to give anyway? The answer has to be a resounding yes, but it doesn’t come without pain. Right now, doing the right thing…loving people the best we can…holding our tongue when we have been hurt or wronged…it’s like the pain of exercising. The burn deep down that gets better the longer you keep at it. Sometimes, it feels like a rubber band being stretched to the max but not breaking. It’s in these times…the times when you allow God to help you forgive anyway, be kind anyway, build anyway…these are the times when  you see what you’re made of. A tree is known by the fruit it bears. In the face of cruel, selfish, un-thinking people…bear good fruit anyway.

This poem was loved my Mother Teresa, displayed in her childrens’ home in Calcutta:

Anyway

People are often unreasonable, illogical and self centered;
Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you’ve got anyway.
You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and your God;
It was never between you and them anyway.
~Kent M. Keith

RECENT POSTS

READ MORE