Paradox

   People are often unreasonable, irrational, 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 unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies.  Succeed anyway.

           If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you.  Be honest and sincere anyway.

            What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight.  Create anyway.

            If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous.  Be happy anyway.

            The good you do today, will often be forgotten.  Do good anyway.

         Give the best you have, and it will never be enough.  Give your best anyway.

         In the final analysis, it is between you and God.  It was never between you and them anyway.

by Mother Theresa

Commentary:

I feel this poem details the trails and troubles of any Christian attempting to live out his/her faith in an authentic way. So often the world will twist once-good intentions into dark demeanor-ed plans. Too easily virtue can be misinterpreted for vice, tables flip and things turn for the worst. If everything turned out perfectly every time, we might pride ourselves on our great achievements. But God's ways are not our ways.

"Then why did I do it?" Mother Theresa answers "it is between you and God."

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