If only everyone in the world would be kind and do good anyway when we run into obstacles and obstinate people. The truth is, all of us can be unreasonable and self-centered at times. Yes . . . even you and me. Say it isn’t so! Yep.
Truly an enduring and persistent woman, Mother Teresa modeled how to keep bending when life (and some people and problems) dare you to break. This humble servant knew how to turn the tables on responding with anger, resentment and revenge.
Fortunately, there’s encouraging hope for all of us. We can learn to make better choices and response more positively to challenges and challenging people. Mother Teresa adapted the following poem and had it inscribed on the wall of her children’s home in Calcutta, India.
How peaceful our world would be if we would practice even a few of the wise words Mother Teresa shares here:
Do It 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;
If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;
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 God;
It was never between you and them anyway.