4.22.17
This past weekend was Easter, a tough weekend for my while I'm living so far from home. It was always a well-celebrated holiday with my family—church, decorating eggs, family meals—the works. While I am lucky enough to spend the day with my New York family, I still felt a pang of homesickness as I passed all the families along the sidewalk that Sunday. Easter Sunday this year was more challenging with the news that my grandmother, whom I adore so much, was ill and wouldn't be able to make it to celebrations. This woman—the absolute toughest lady I've ever known—never complains, so if she is not feeling well, it's a really scary time for the legions of people who adore her. Being apart from everyone while I waited for news about her health was tough, made better only by my reliance upon her strength and faith to keep me strong as well. She's doing well again, thankfully, but it's been at the back of my mind all week. I can't consider what I'd do without my grandma in my life, especially as I go through so many major life changes.
My grandma is an amazing woman for so many reasons, but one of my favorite things about her is her dedication to keeping our family together. She's well into her 80s but still compiles a weekly email of our family updates to send out to everyone; the Dear Family is one of the best parts of my week. This week, without referencing the health challenges she's been going through, Grandma began the letter with a quote. Even without context, it's beautiful and has stuck with me enough to share:
“People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you for ulterior motives. Be kind anyway. If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway. If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway. The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway. Give the world the the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway. For you see, in the end, it really is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.”
Whatever your relationship with God, with your family, or with your world right now, let's all remember that kindness can move us all forward, even in the most challenging of times.