Mother Teresa hung a copy of this poem on a wall
of the orphanage
she founded in Calcutta.
Its source is unknown
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.
I have seen this before but it’s a very timely reminder. We are only responsible for our own thought, and we decide whether to take things personally. I am also reminded of Mrs. Eddy’s article ‘Taking Offense.’ Thanks for sharing.
Thanks so much, Evan!! This is wonderful & I also appreciate the previous comment which highlights “Taking Offense” — definitely one of my favorites!!
As Mrs Eddy wrote, “Love Is The Liberator.”
AMEN…….GOD !!!!!!
It was written by the then Harvard student Kent M. Keith, and first published by the Harvard Student Agencies in 1968.
https://www.kentmkeith.com/paradoxicalcommandments