INFLUENCE OF SMALL THINGS

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’s no way of telling, where the end is going to be.

Drop a pebble in the water, in a minute you forget,
But the little waves are flowing, and the ripples circling yet.
All the ripples flowing, flowing to a mighty wave have grown;
And you’ve disturbed a mighty river, just by dropping in a
stone.

Drop a word, unkind 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’s no way to stop them, once you’ve started
them to flow.

Drop a word, unkind and careless, in a minute you forget,
But the little waves are flowing, and the ripples flowing yet.
And perhaps in some sad heart, a mighty wave of tears
you’ve stirred,
And disturbed a life that’s happy, when you’ve dropped
an 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 splashing,
dashing wave,
’Til you wouldn’t believe the blessing of the one kind word
you gave.

Drop a word of cheer and kindness, in a minute you forget,
but the gladness still is swelling, and the joy is circling yet.
And you’ve rolled a wave of comfort, whose sweet music
can be heard
Over the miles and miles of water, just by dropping
one kind word.