Some people in life never give up; they take on the challenges before them with a vim and vigor that often surprise others. They’re not easily unhinged by the difficulties we all encounter at some point.
My grandmother on my mom’s side was one of those people. She stayed in Czechoslovakia with her children while her husband immigrated to America, began a bakery business in Chicago, and eventually brought his family there. For several years, my grandmother lived alone, providing for her family, working, and raising her children. When she finally arrived in Chicago with the children, it was only a few years later that her husband died of a botched appendectomy. Once again, she was alone, working and raising a family.
Granny didn’t flinch from her responsibilities. She worked hard and long, but all of her children grew to become upstanding adults with responsible jobs.
That was a big deal.
We were in Pennsylvania this past week for the memorial for my son’s mother-in-law, Cathy. She was one of those resilient women with a willingness to tackle whatever she had to for her job.
Her jobs were varied. She was a middle school and high school teacher; she coached field hockey and basketball, and she became a school superintendent for the county. Plus, she raised four children, as well as teaching them and coaching them.
Her accomplishments intimidated some. But she managed to accomplish her responsibilities with compassion, understanding, and kindness.
It’s not easy to multitask. Cathy did it with a sweet spirit. The apostle Paul managed to do it with a renewed mind once he was confronted with the risen, glorified Christ. He went from being a Pharisee with an arrogant self-centeredness who enjoyed the accolades of the people to a man willing to serve others, sharing the gospel of salvation. He worked as a tentmaker to support himself as he shared Jesus’ message. While working, he traveled to churches around Europe and Asia, sharing the good news, as well as writing letters to these churches, theological epistles to help new believers grow in their faith.
Paul and Cathy both had a sense of what was necessary and right. There was much to do, but they did what they were called to do with an inner joy and commitment that came from a deeply held faith in Jesus.
At Cathy’s memorial, a poem by Mother Teresa was read that reflected the character of both.
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.”
We will always have much to do, and at times we may feel compromised or unappreciated for what we do. But choosing to do the right thing, making the time for people, and seeing others as more important than yourself are values that make life better for everyone.
Do it anyway.
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