Encouragement Poems

On File

If an unkind word appears,

File the thing away.

If some novelty in jeers,

File the thing away,

If some clever little bit

Of a shape and pointed wit,

Carrying a sting with it -

File the thing away.

If some bit of gossip come,

File the thing away.

Scandalously spicy crumb,

File the thing away.

If suspicion comes to you

That your neighbor isn't true

Let me tell you what to do -

File the thing away.

Do this for a little while,

Then go out and burn the file.

John Kendrick Bangs

Giving and Forgiving

What makes life worth the living

Is our giving and forgiving;

Giving tiny bits of kindness

That will leave a joy behind us,

And forgiving bitter trifles

That the right word often stifles,

For the little things are bigger

Than we often stop to figure.

What makes life worth the living

Is our giving and forgiving.

How To Forget

If you were busy being kind,

Before you knew it, you would find

You'd soon forget to think 'twas true

That someone was unkind to you.

If you were busy being glad

And cheering people who are sad,

Although your heart might ache a bit,

You'd soon forget to notice it.

If you were busy doing good,

And doing just the best you could,

You'd not have time to blame some man

Who's doing just the best he can.

If you were busy being right,

You'd find yourself too busy quite

To criticize your neighbor long

Because he's busy being wrong.

Rebecca Foresman