I really need to put the Paradoxical Commandments on the wall next to my computer.
People are difficult. We are at times ungrateful, self-centered, self-pitying, and any other "self-" adjective that makes others miserable. I'm one of those people. We all are, ever since we walked with tears and shame out of that first lovely garden.
Unless we resolve to do it anyway, nothing good will ever happen. When I look back on my life, I want to know that I helped. I won't be thinking about how ungrateful Johnny was, or how so-and-so spread jealous gossip. I'll be treasuring my memories of how I made a difference.
The Paradoxical Commandments
by Dr. Kent M. Keith
People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered.
Love them anyway.
If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Do good anyway.
If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.
The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.
Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.
The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds.
Think big anyway.
People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs.
Fight for a few underdogs anyway.
What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.
People really need help but may attack you if you do help them.
Help people anyway.
Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth.
Give the world the best you have anyway.
And while I'm on the subject of being humane, Dawn Simon gave Inkhorn Blue the Humane Award. Thank you! Dawn is a writer of Young Adult fiction. She recently finaled in a contest and maintains an encouraging blog. Stop by and say hello, if you get a chance.
14 comments:
Yes, these are very good. I use them at work with junior managers. Makes them better managers.
All true, all true. My tendency is to hole up and lick my wounds rather than plunge ahead in confidence.
I'm uncurling anyway and continuing to work on the story I'm convinced I'll never get right and will spell my demise as a writer.
I'm writing it anyway. I'm a writer, apparently. What else can I do?
Congratulations on the award and thanks for the link. I'm not sure I've paid attention to that list like I just now did. I'm an avid fighter for underdogs. It stirred a new inspiration in me.
Gwen's last few lines made me smile.
~ Wendy
Reminds me of the song by Martina McBride. I think it's called Anyway. I see where she got the lyrics. :)
Thanks for understanding my quirky post on zebras. :)
Enjoy your day!
Hey, I like this. These are great!
Congrats on your award.
I feel like I'm living under a rock because I didn't know these were called the Paradoxical Commandments until now
Thanks!
HELP!!!
Rosslyn, I have lost my folder with our correspondence. I checked everywhere - trashed mail, filed mail (what, me? organize and file stuff!!). So, I need your address again if you will send it to me at elizabeth.mahlou@gmail.com. (Sorry!)
I hadn't heard of this before, but such Godly advice. I want to print this off too.
PS from Elizabeth -- sorry for sending the information and request publicly through your blog; I could not find any other way to contact you.
You really should add some more commandments to that list. Heck I live these everyday.
11.) The kids will mess up your recently cleaned house. Clean it anyway.
12.) The kids will dirty the diapers you just changed. Change it again anyway.
13.) The kids will complain about the healthy food you made for them. Make it for them anyway.
14.) Your kids will resent you for giving them boundaries and making them do housework. Limit them and make them work anyway.
Hey! Maybe this is why God gave us kids...to practice those wonderful truths you wrote about. :)
But these are great reminders!
Elizabeth - No problem! I just sent the info.
Gwen - It's the things we think will crush us that end up showing us our real strengths. I know you can break through!
Sunshine Mama - I love these. Your additions are good examples of why motherhood also shows us strengths we did not know we possessed. :-)
Thanks for the shout out, Rosslyn. You're very sweet! :)
I love these commandments. I think they would fit in another book of Proverbs essays/devotionals. What do you think?
Warren, I think that's an excellent idea. You could back each up with the appropriate verses and anecdotes. I wonder if the author would grant you the rights?
Post a Comment