10.21.2008

How to Live

"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 God;
It never was between you and them anyway."
~Mother Teresa

How I love reading the wise words of Mother Teresa. The last line says it all: in the end, it's between us personally and our Heavenly Father. Our job is to do good, love others, and be happy and in the end, He will judge. Life is between us and Him, no one else.

Knowing that, then, my responsibility is to do what I think He would do if He were here. That knowledge makes life's choices simple and clear.

15 comments:

hoLLy said...

wow, those words were incredible. i had never read that before. that truly puts it into perspective. i love it! good job mother theresa! :)

jenjamin said...

Well said! This concept is very near and dear to my heart. Thanks for sharing.

Unknown said...

love that! so great.

Natalie Scott said...

SUCH a good quote. That one needs to be on my fridge!

Hacking it up said...

Those are really great quotes!! I can always count on you to get me centered again!!! Love it!! Thanks!

Mia said...

Jan I absolutely love the quotes you find and the thoughts you have about the quotes! Thanks for sharing.

tara said...

hmmm. it's about perspective, isn't it?

wonderful thoughts jan:) as usual.

Darleen said...

I need to print this list up and put it in my pocket. Very important to do but sometimes so hard to do.

Renae said...

I love that quote!!! You are a fountain of wisdom and reading up on your life makes me happy. Thank you!

SweetmamaK said...

Thanks for continuing to bless my life!!! You are the best.

Ashley said...

sometimes it IS hard to choose the right, but mother teresa's words are inspiring to choose the right anyway. great post!

Cammie said...

Good old Mother Teresa! She sure did know what she was talking about. I love that quote because it puts me in check when I start thinking "what's the point?"

Monique said...

I totally blog-stole (is that a word?) this from you and put it on mine. It just spoke to me today. Thanks!

tiburon said...

Fantastic quote - love those thoughts. :)

Phogles said...

I love that quote. So wise! I need to remember that more often. perhaps I should paint it on my bedroom ceiling, so when I'm lying in bed, feeling sorry for myself, or tired and unmotivated, I can read them again and again...