Drop A Pebble in the Water

                                                                               

Drop a pebble in the water;

just a splash and it is gone;

But there's 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've disturbed a might river just by dropping in a stone.

Drop an unkind word, or careless; in a minute is 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 you've started them to flow.

Drop a word of cheer and kindness; just a flash and it is gone;

But there's half-a-hundred ripple circling on and on and on,

Bearing hope and joy and comfort on each splashing, dashing wave

Till you wouldn't believe the volume of the one 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 heard

Over miles and miles of water just by dropping one kind word.

-James William Foley -