Many years ago, my dad gave me a poem titled "Anyway". He was a letter carrier in our little town (or so it was then) and he found the following poem in the Christmas edition of his Letter Carrier magazine. Dad often clipped out little poems or articles and gave them to each of his children (5 of us) from time to time. Just little scraps of paper...or so it seemed. I would read them, tell him how nice they were and take them home. When dad passed away in 2012, I took a plastic tote out of my closet. It held cards and letters, momento's from over the years and a few of the little scraps of paper that dad had given to me. It was then that I realize that these little scraps of paper were not just poems and articles...they were life lessons. Quiet...unspoked...words that meant so much to him. Words that he wanted to share with us. I read the following poem at his funeral because I wanted to share one of the life lessons that he had shared with me. I have found much encouragement in this short little poem over the years and I hope you do too. When life is hard...when people are cruel...when I am tired beyond tired I pull out this poem and read it again. I reminisce about my dad and have a good cry. Then I lift my head high and carry on "Anyway". I hope you find as much encouragement from my dad's poem as I have.
Anyway ( Dad - "Fred's" Poem) People are unreasonable, illogical 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 win false friends and true enemies. SUCCEED ANYWAY. The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow, DO GOOD ANYWAY. Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable. BE HONEST AND FRANK ANYWAY. People favor the underdogs but follow only top dogs. FIGHT FOR SOME UNDERDOGS ANYWAY. What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight. BUILD ANYWAY. People really need help but may attack you if you 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’VE GOT ANYWAY.
This article was reprinted from the holiday issue of the Kansas Letter Carrier.
I have prayed for each of you already this morning!! Hope you have a blessed Friday! Remember your quiet time...and don't forget to treat yourself kindly!! We are all on this mission together!
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