A Lesson in Forgiveness

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, there may be jealousy --

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 was never between you and "them" anyway.

From The Saturday Evening Post, Jan/Feb 2007