Love always

Lately I've felt challenged by those who have been less than loving in their behaviors toward life in general.  There are those times - for me and I can only imagine for you also - when I am challenged by their unkindness, cruelty in fact, and want to react, to respond to them in less than loving ways.  In those moments, perhaps one in particular, I recalled something I'd read a few years ago that just pumps my spirit full of light and encouragement.  It's the Paradoxical Commandments, which was reformatted by Mother Theresa as her poem, "Anyways," which hung on the wall of her Shishu Bhavan, the children's home in Calcutta.  I share that with you here because I need to remember it and thought you might also.

"Anyways"

People are illogical, unreasonable and self centered,
Love them anyway.


If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Do good anyway.


If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.


The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.


Honestly and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.


The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds.
Think big anyway.


People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs.
Fight for a few underdogs anyway.


What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.


People really need help but may attack you if you do help them.
Help people anyway.


Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth.
Give the world the best you have anyway.