ANYWAY
**************

People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self centered;
Forgive them and love them anyway

If you are kind, people accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.
Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and true enemies,
Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, they may cheat you,
Be forthright anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous and scornful,
Be joyous anyway.

The good you do today, they will forget tomorrow,
Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it will never be enough.
Give the world your best anyway.

For one's own sense of well being, their criticism would be best to fall on deaf ears.
When it's all said and done, we will only have to explain ourselves to God as will they.
Anonymous

Anyway (another version)

Forgive, and love them, anyway,
though they may be unreasonable,
illogical, & self centered.

Be yourself, anyway,
though they may
criticize you.

Be honest and frank, anyway,
though they may
cheat you.

Be kind and caring, anyway,
though they may accuse you
of having selfish motives.

Be happy and joyous, anyway,
though they may be
jealous and scornful.

Be your best, anyway,
though it may
never be enough.

Be successful, anyway,
though you may win
false friends, and true enemies.

Be charitable, anyway,
though they may forget
your good deeds tomorrow.

Be true to God, anyway,
though they may abandon you
for your beliefs .

Blossom in God's love, anyway,
though they may never know
the real you.

Richard D. Dover
In His Steps Ministries
Previous Poetry