Changed for Good

My best friend Diane went to Heaven three years ago this month after having cancer. She gave love generously and in return was/is loved by many, many(!) people. I was blessed to be one of them. She’s a part of who I am. We were each other’s teacher, learning together and about ourselves too. As the lyrics from the song “For Good” say, “Because I knew you, I have been changed for good.” 

I hope you have, or had, or will find a friend like this in your lifetime. I also hope you will know what it’s like to be this kind of friend to someone. God designed us to need each other and give and receive love.

Diane had a great memory and could recite lots of poems in their entirety. She could also remember jokes. Some of the best were the ones she told with an Irish or another accent (she was from New York). 😆

This poem was one of her favorites and I know she’d want me to share it with you. It’s often attributed to Mother Teresa after being found on the wall of her children’s home in Calcutta, but its origin was from a piece written by Dr. Kent M. Keith which she adapted. Whether this poem is familiar to you or you’re reading it for the first time, slow down and savor the meaning and wisdom within these words.

Do It Anyway

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 true enemies;
Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank,
people may cheat you;
Be honest 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 was never between you and them anyway.

RESET HIGHER: What spoke to you most in these contrasting thoughts? Do you do what’s best – anyway? Not to get rewarded, but to give a blessing that’s for good in a hurting world. Can you do more? We all can!