Dear Editor,
This graduation speech given by Denzel Washington was sent to me on WhatsApp. Because on WhatsApp videos sent to “my status” are trimmed to 30 seconds, I decided to share it this way, with your permission.
“No.1. Put God first in everything you do. Everything that you think you see in me, everything that I have accomplished, everything that you think I have, and I have a few things, is by the grace of God. Understand that. It is a gift. I’ve been protected, directed and corrected. I’ve kept God in my life, which kept me humble. I didn’t always stick with Him, but He always stuck with me. So stick with Him in everything you do. If you think you want to do what you think I have done, then do what I have done and stick with God.
“You never see a U-Haul behind a hearse. I don’t care how much money you make, you can’t take it with you. And it’s not how much you have, it’s what you do with what you have. We all have different talents. Some of you will be doctors, some lawyers, some scientists, some educators, some teachers, some preachers.
“The most selfish thing you can do in this world is to help someone else. Why? Because of the gratification that comes to you. The good feeling that you get from helping them. The good feeling that I get, nothing is better than that. The Joy. Not the jewelry, not the big house I have, or the cars. it’s the joy in helping others. That’s where the success is.
“Say thank you for grace, for mercy for understanding, thank you for wisdom, for parents, thank you for love, for kindness, for humility, for peace, thank you for prosperity. Say thank you in advance for what is already yours. That’s how I live my life, that’s one of the reasons why I am where I am today.
“True desire in the heart for anything good is God’s proof to you sent beforehand to indicate that it is yours already. True desire in the heart, that itch that you have, whatever it is that you want to do, to help others to grow and to make money, that desire, that itch, that’s God proof to you, sent beforehand already to indicate that it is yours.
“And anything you want good, you can have. So claim it. Work hard to get it. When you get it, reach back, pull someone else up. Each one teach one. Don’t just aspire to make a living, aspire to make a difference.”
Russell A. Simmons
