Drop a Peble in the water: just a splash and it is gone;
But the half-a-hundred ripples circling on and on and on,
spreading, spreading from the center, flowing on out to the sea.
And there is no way of telling where the end is going to be.

Drop a pebble in the water: in a minute you forget,
But there’s little waves a-flowing and there’s ripples circling yet,
And those little waves a-flowing to a great big wave have grown;
You’re disturbed a mighty river just by dropping in a stone.

Drop an unkind word, or careless: in a minute it is gone;
But there’s half-a-hundred ripples circling on and on and on.
They keep spreading, spreading, spreading from the center as they go,
And there is no way to stop them, once your’ve started them to flow.

Drop an unkind word, or careless: in a minute you forgett;
But the little waves a-flowing, and there’s ripples circling yet,
And perhaps in some sad heard a mighty wave of tears you’ve stirred,
And disturbed a life once happy ere you dropped that unkind word.

Drop a word of cheer and kindness: just a flash and it is gone;
But there’s half-a-hundred ripples circling on and on and on,
Bearing hope and joy and comfort on each splashin, dashing wave,
Till you wouldn’t belive the volume of that on kind word you gave.

Drop a word of cheer and kindness: in a minute you forget;
But there’s gladness still a-swelling, and there’s joy a-circling yet,
And you’ve rolled a wave of comfort whose sweet music can be heared
Over miles and miles of water just by dropping on kind word.

.

by James W. Foley

taken from: „A Time of peace“,
edited by: Mervin J. Baer & Marvin Eichner
copyright 1993 by „Rod and Staf publishers Inc.“
Crockelt, Kentucky 41413

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