Blessed Teresa of Calcutta was born on August 26th, 1910, which makes today her 100th birthday.
I named this blog from one of my favorite quotes of hers. There is much about her life and her faith that is inspiring. Just a few days ago, as I examined my aging face in the mirror, tugging and squishing to see what a "lift" might do, it occurred to me that mounting a photo of Mother Teresa in my bathroom might help me to keep beauty in perspective.
Here is a poem that she hung on the wall of her childrens home in Calcutta, a revision of a poem attributed to Kent Keith:
"Do It Anyway"
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 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.
