{"id":5346,"date":"2012-07-30T07:00:52","date_gmt":"2012-07-30T11:00:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/beyondblue\/?p=5346"},"modified":"2012-03-10T21:20:04","modified_gmt":"2012-03-11T03:20:04","slug":"mindful-monday-love-them-anyway","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/beyondblue\/2012\/07\/mindful-monday-love-them-anyway.html","title":{"rendered":"Love Them Anyway"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Paradoxical Commandments<\/a><\/strong> were written by Kent M. Keith in 1968 as part of a booklet for student leaders. For more than thirty years, they have circled the globe, been graced on refrigerators, featured in speeches, and even put up on the wall of a children\u2019s home in Calcutta, India by Mother Teresa herself.<\/p>\n

I think they are a powerful articulation of compassion, and a call to selfless love that would change the world. Even though I am terrible at carrying them out, I post them here as an inspiration to us all. You can find out more information on them at Kent Keith\u2019s website, www.paradoxicalcommandments.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

There are various versions of the Paradoxical Commandments circulating throughout cyberspace. The one below isn\u2019t an exact match to the poem on Dr. Keith\u2019s site, but I love it \u201canyway,\u201d so here it is.<\/p>\n

People are often unreasonable and self-centered.
\nForgive them anyway.
\nIf you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives.
\nBe kind anyway.
\nIf you are honest, people may cheat you.
\nBe honest anyway.
\nIf you find happiness, people may be jealous.
\nBe happy anyway.
\nThe good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow.
\nDo good anyway.
\nGive the world the best you have, and it may never be enough.
\nGive your best anyway.
\nFor you see, in the end, it is between you and God.
\nIt was never between you and them anyway<\/em>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"\"<\/a>And here is one of my favorite prayers by St. Therese of Lisieux, my patron saint<\/a>.<\/p>\n

May today there be peace within.
\nMay I trust God that I am exactly where I am meant to be.
\nMay I not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.
\nMay I use these gifts that I have received, and pass on the love that has been given to me.
\nMay I be content knowing I am a child of God.
\nLet this presence settle into my bones, and allow my soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love.
\nIt is there for each and every one of us.<\/em> <\/p><\/blockquote>\n

* Click here to subscribe to Beyond Blue<\/b><\/a> and click here to follow Therese on Twitter<\/b><\/a> and click here to join Group Beyond Blue<\/b><\/a>, a depression support group. Now stop clicking.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Paradoxical Commandments were written by Kent M. Keith in 1968 as part of a booklet for student leaders. For more than thirty years, they have circled the globe, been graced on refrigerators, featured in speeches, and even put up on the wall of a children\u2019s home in Calcutta, India by Mother Teresa herself. I…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":17,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5346","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-inspiration-and-prayer"],"yoast_head":"\nLove Them Anyway - Beyond Blue<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/beyondblue\/2012\/07\/mindful-monday-love-them-anyway.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Love Them Anyway - Beyond Blue\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The Paradoxical Commandments were written by Kent M. Keith in 1968 as part of a booklet for student leaders. 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