Do It Anyway 

We live in an imperfect world.  As Christians we try follow God's will in our lives.  We strive to see Jesus in everyone and treat them as children of God.  But our efforts are often met with resistance; we are laughed at, ridiculed, and even persecuted for living as God teaches. 

Those with no faith try to tell us we are naïve and childish.  They would have us restrict our faith to church and home alone.  According to some God has no place in the public square and we have no right to put our faith on display.  At times it can be tempting to go along; to just keep our faith to ourselves to avoid conflict.  Yet that is a denial of God and His place in our lives and our world. 

Difficulty in living our faith is to be expected.  Christianity has never been nor ever will be an easy path.  Our Lord told us that would have crosses to bear as we follow Him.  How should we react to a world that wishes to silence our faith and our way of life?  We continue to live it anyway. 

The following poem is attributed to Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta.  By following this example and living by these words we can be assured that God will strengthen us in our efforts. 

“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."