I was reading an old blog of mine and exactly 3 years ago, a friend IM’d me the following:
After a while, you learn the subtle difference between holding a hand and chaining a soul, And you learn that love doesn’t mean leaning and company doesn’t mean security. And you begin to learn that kisses aren’t contracts and presents aren’t promises. And you begin to accept your defeats with your head up and your eyes open, with the grace of an adult, not the grief of a child. And you learn to build all your roads on today because tomorrow’s ground is too uncertain for plans. After a while you learn that even sunshine burns if you get too much. So plant your own garden and decorate your own soul, instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers. And you learn that you really can endure… That you really are strong. And that you really do have worth. ==> 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, 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.
I was able to relate to this back then, but it makes even more sense now… does anyone know who wrote this or where it comes from?
I think the first half is “after a while” by Veronica A. Shoffstall and the second half is The Paradoxical Commandments,written by Kent M. Keith. I actually never knew myself where these came from, but I looked it up. (:
Hi Grace,
Heard about it from Jaeson when he visited my school to screen 1040, Hallelujah! I really liked this quote – the timing is utterly perfect. I hope you’re doing well, hope to run into you sometime!
Do you remember me from UCLA Asian American Studies? So glad to see you met the Big Guy
Blessings,
Hannah
PS
Jeannie Mai is the BOMB!!! She visited a women’s bible study hosted by Pastor Sharon Ngai at TCC a couple years ago and shared her testimony…good stuff!