Wednesday, December 02, 2009

A Prayer and The Final Analysis

I received this prayer in one of those ever-so-slightly-irksome-but-well-meaning-and-interesting email forwards from a dear friend.

It is a bunch of words which, when put together, are really quite positive and reassuring/inspiring for some. So I thought I would spread this good vibe via my blog.

Saint Theresa's Prayer
May today there be peace within.
May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.
May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.
May you be content knowing you are a child of God.
Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, Dance, praise and love.
It is there for each and every one of us.


Just doing a bit of googling around about St Theresa and I chanced upon the following ditty called 'The Final Analysis' - some sources quoting it was written by Mother Teresa, others claiming it was actually written by Kent M. Keith in 1968 and was titled the 'The Paradoxical Commandments', which Mother Teresa eventually got a version of and stuck on a wall in Calcutta somewhere. Whoever wrote it, and whatever version I now present - I think is interesting because it asks us to consider where do all these kinds of ideas in the world originate from? Who owns them, as such? Does it really matter? Does it matter if the words are not the original words? I think the main thing to focus on is the words as they present themselves to you now, and what they mean to you.

The Final Analysis
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.

3 comments:

Maylis said...

Thank you for these beautiful and meaningful words.

Joyce Hopewell said...

I really liked that! An excellent reminder to go out into the world with good faith and intentions and give whatever you're doing your best shot.

Barbara said...

Hi Abby,

It's spreading good karma around.

It's challenging to keep these principles going when you have negative people around you.

Thanks for the good advice !