The Poem
Every soul that touches yours -
Be it the slightest contact -
Get there from some good;
Some little grace; one kindly thought;
One aspiration yet unfelt;
One bit of courage
For the darkening sky;
One gleam of faith
To brave the thickening ills of life;
One glimpse of brighter skies -
To make this life worthwhile
And heaven a surer heritage.
- George Eliot
Summary
The poem "Making Life Worth While" by George Eliot is a short yet profound poem that conveys a powerful message about human interaction and the positive impact we can have on one another. The poet urges us to ensure that every person who comes into contact with us, no matter how brief the encounter, should gain something good from it.
The poet suggests that we should offer others some small gift of the spirit — a little grace, a kindly thought, a new aspiration, a bit of courage during difficult times, a gleam of faith to face life's growing troubles, or a glimpse of hope for a better future. By doing so, we make our own life worthwhile and also secure a surer place in heaven.