A Poem by Mother Theresa

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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 will cheat you; be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend your years building, someone could destroy overnight; build anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; do good anway.

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.

-- Anonymous, February 17, 2002

Answers

Oh thank you, Earthmama! I really needed to read this. I'm going to keep this one handy. Lately, I have been (having to) interact with some seriously negative folks (you know, like they have been their entire lives, and you can tell that they're probably not ever going to change...not that *I'm* trying to change them, for sure!). It has been so challenging to me...trying to be cheerful, positive, effective, etc., around people who seem to thrive doing just the opposite.

This is a real keeper, especially for the very last line. Thanks again for posting it.

-- Anonymous, February 17, 2002


I was not aware that originated with Mother Teresa. This is another one attributed to her that I am particularly fond of. “I know God will not give me anything I can’t handle. I just wish He didn’t trust me so much.”

-- Anonymous, February 17, 2002

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