Do Good Anyway | September 2025

September 18, 2025

Dear Friends,

This month’s letter was a little difficult for me. I had nothing. Completely nothing to write or share. I took some time to reflect … there is SO much going on in the world (most, seemingly, not good).

We, as a nation, are divided. I’m seeing more hate being communicated than there is love. People I talk to seem fearful, uncertain, discouraged and deflated. What’s it all for?

As I sat in my room thinking and reflecting on what to share, my gaze turned toward a poem on my wall that is attributed to Mother Teresa because the poem was found on the walls of the Missionaries of Charity's children's home in Calcutta. The original author was Kent M. Keith. Kent originally penned the poem as a set of principles for youth leaders.

People are often unreasonable 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, people may cheat you.

Be honest anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight.

Build anyway.

If you find happiness, people 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.

For you see, in the end, it is between

You and God;

it was never between you and them anyway.

Life is hard. There will be struggles, disagreements and disappointments. My prayer is that we have eyes to see the good in the world and good in others. May we be encouraged to do our best for ourselves and others despite what is going on around us.

Sending you all my prayers, blessings and God’s peace during this time of uncertainty. May we be reminded that “it was never between you and them anyway.”

And, to quote Mother Teresa, "Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.”

With love & gratitude,

Rica