The God Memo

Here are a few of my favorite excerpts from The God Memo in the book "The Greatest Miracle in the World" by Og Mandino:

To: You
From: God

Let me share with you, again, the secret you heard at your birth and forgot.
You are my greatest miracle. You are the greatest miracle in the world.
Those were the first words you ever heard. Then you cried.
You did not believe me then... and nothing has happened in the intervening years to correct your disbelief. For how could you be a miracle when you consider yourself a failure at the most menial of tasks? How can you be a miracle when you have little confidence in dealing with the most trivial of responsibilities? How can you be a miracle when you are so shackled by debt and lie awake in torment over whence will come tomorrow's bread?

You have not known; you have not heard; you have not understood.
You have been told that you are divinity in disguise, a god playing a fool.
You have been told that you are a special piece of work, noble in reason, infinite in faculties, express and admirable in form and moving, like an angel in action, like a god in apprehension.

You have shown no knowledge or appreciation of your uniqueness.
Yet, you are the rarest thing in the world.
... A priceless treasure, possessed of qualities in mind and speech and movement and appearance and actions as no other who has ever lived, lives, or shall live.
No longer hide your rarity in the dark. Bring it forth. Show the world. Strive not to walk as your brother walks, nor talk as your leader talks, nor labor as do the mediocre. Never do as another. Never imitate.
Be yourself.

I gave you the power to think.
I gave you the power to love.
I gave you the power to will.
I gave you the power to laugh.
I gave you the power to imagine.
I gave you the power to create.
I gave you the power to plan.
I gave you the power to speak.
I gave you the power to pray.

Choose to love... rather than hate.
Choose to laugh... rather than cry.
Choose to create... rather than destroy.
Choose to persevere... rather than quit.
Choose to praise... rather than gossip.
Choose to heal... rather than wound.
Choose to give... rather than steal.
Choose to act... rather than procrastinate.
Choose to grow.. rather than rot.
Choose to pray... rather than curse.
Choose to live... rather than die.

Remember, then, the four laws of happiness and success.
Count your blessings.
Proclaim your rarity.
Go another mile.
Use wisely your power of choice.
And one more, to fulfill the other four. Do all things with love... love for yourself, love for all others, and love for me.