What Is Ours to Do?

When I compare myself to others, I have an immense sense of failure, of inadequacy because I see only their strengths which seldom are my strengths. 

But when I forget comparisons and look only to what needs to be done, what can be done, I am at peace in the knowledge that I have something to give, something to offer. 

If I give of myself, it will make a difference, even though someone else could have given more, could have loved more perfectly, could have succeeded where I failed. 

If only everyone realized that the gift she or he can give is unique and does make a difference! 

What pain of self-pity he or she would be spared! 

We can never be the people we admire. 

We can only be ourselves, and that alone is admirable.

—from the book Song of the Sparrow: New Poems and Meditations by Murray Bodo, OFM