My wife does an excellent job each year planting flowers in the front and back of our home. We enjoy seeing God’s beauty in nature evidenced in the wonderful colors and sweet fragrances present in the different plants.

In a very small way, such plantings help balance the ugliness that can be found in today’s world at times.

This year, the geraniums planted in the front of the house have come under attack by a neighborhood squirrel. It appears the squirrel is digging out the geraniums and then placing nuts in their place. That has never happened to us before.

Knowing how hard my wife worked in planting the flowers, I told her that I was sorry for the destruction caused by the squirrel. My wife simply smiled and said that the squirrel was doing what she was made to do. We will be okay. It is not a big thing.

This reminded me how we are also called to be forgiving when people interrupt our best laid plans or selfishly tear down what we may have worked hard to build...often with our best of motives to bring sunshine into the lives of others.

We should always remember in such situations that God knows our honorable intentions and that is all that counts. This reminded me of the prayer attributed to St. Mother Teresa, entitled 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 forget tomorrow;

Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;

Give the world the best you’ve got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and your God;

It was never between you and them anyway.

By: Deacon Tom Gryzbek