Just between us

 

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.

 

-this version is credited to Mother Teresa

 

My friend and I were talking recently about being disappointed by other people. Does this have to do with other people or with our own expectations?

Why are we continually allowing ourselves to feel let down by other’s reactions? Why are we allowing their reactions to change us?

I love the quote above because it reminds us that people will not always respond the way we want them to. But what does that have to do with our behavior? Why would we not do what is right because of someone else?

If you give love and it is not accepted, it does not make that love any less real. I picture it like a butterfly leaving us – beautiful and free and a gift. If the person it is intended for doesn’t accept it, it’s okay, that butterfly is out in the world and will land somewhere. Wherever it lands will become more beautiful, more open, gifted. It is never wrong to put love out there. It’s how we make the world more beautiful.

The worst thing that could happen is that we would hide ourselves from the world because of fear of other’s reactions. Instead of shrinking we should stand tall and firm and courageous. We have one voice to listen to and it’s the voice of God.

All the other voices are confusing but His is not. His voice leads us down the right road every time.

My friend asked me, “Don’t you wish you could ask God what you should do?”

I can ask Him. If I stay connected to Him through prayer and contemplation and reading His word, the answers will be clear to me.

When I remember it’s between Him and me, I feel safe and steady and sure.

It’s when I start worrying about everyone else’s opinion that I falter.

“I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble.” – Proverbs 4:11-12

 

©2011 Sue Bidstrup, Great Big Yes™ All Rights Reserved

photograph from stlukesgolden.net