Things That Never Die by Charles Dickens

The pure, the bright, the beautiful
that stirred our hearts in youth,
The impulses to wordless prayer,
The streams of love and truth,
The longing after something lost,
The spirit's yearning cry,
The striving after better hopes—
These things can never die.

The timid hand stretched forth to aid
A brother in his need;
A kindly word in grief's dark hour
That proves a friend indeed;
The plea for mercy softly breathed,
When justice threatens high,
The sorrow of a contrite heart—
These things shall never die.

Let nothing pass, for every hand
Must find some work to do,
Lose not a chance to waken love—
Be firm and just and true.
So shall a light that cannot fade
Beam on thee from on high,
And angel voices say to thee—
"These things shall never die."

This is by far my favorite poem. My choir sang it once. I don't care how old it is; it's meaning is timeless and true for everyone. Read each line carefully and you'll find something that rings true for you.

Kindness

Words are extremely powerful, in just about every aspect imaginable. They make you laugh and cry; they break your heart and they fill you with anger. They can brighten someone's day and convince someone to commit suicide. They can make you want to change the world. They can hollow your insides with pain and fill you with contentment. They can make you cry out with grief. They can overwhelm you with nostalgia, making you wish for a different time.

I think by now I've proven my point. I just want to thank all those who use the power of words for kindness. You never know how much good you're doing.

The older I get, the more I'm convinced that my mom is right: Life is all about the little things. That may sound simplistic and naive, but the world could be simplistic and naive if people didn't screw it up. Take joy in the little things, and life becomes more enjoyable.