In honor of Mother Teresa August 26, 2011 (her birthday) has been designated as International Caregiver's Day.The following poem was written on the wall at Mother Teresa's home for children in Calcutta: 

Do It Anyway 

-By Dr. Kent M. Keith

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 true enemies;
Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank,
people may cheat you;
Be honest 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 world 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.

                                                                                                                                                        Watercolor by ~liz

As we honor Mother Teresa for a life of Loving, may we also affirm the people in our lives who manifest Light in their own unique and irreplaceable way. Whether or not we are in health care, each time we offer a gesture with a Loving Intention we are caregivers of wonder. What matters most is how we journey, not so much what we do.  There is marvelous diversity in how caregivers seek communion and give expression to the Divine.

Who are the people in your life who come to mind for you? Today is your day to offer a loving intention for another. Perhaps just to utter their name is prayer enough, or maybe one word can hint at his or her true essence.  Possibly,  a sweet remembrance will surface that will curl your lips in a smile.  Maybe, you will recall a time of despair, of feeling isolated by pain or fear and a friend showed up to walk along beside you, a spark of the Divine amidst darkness, a lifeline.  Perhaps, Beauty manifests through inspiring caregivers who dance, sing poetry, sprinkle romance, and give voice to what lies hidden. Perchance,  is it one who sees with sacred eyes, the Light however obscure, that is within you?

Take a moment in reverence to remember those with us, or beyond, for this is Love.

~liz Sorensen Wessel