Yesterday was the feast day of Mother Teresa and my Social Media feeds were filled with inspiration and advice from her time on earth. God lived in her so evidently that even now, hearing her words, I hear the voice of God.
She lived a life of great charity and simplicity. She met everyone with a gaze of love as if she were seeing Jesus himself. Her life was incredible, but what always strikes me most is her deep respect and love for family life.
If you want to change the world, go home and love your family.
Mother Teresa
As I read through her wisdom I’m struck over and over again by her message. She holds family life in such high regard that if all you ever do with your life is love your family deeply, then you have done enough.
Another quote that struck me was:
There are many of us willing to do great things for the Lord, but few of us are willing to do little things.
Mother Teresa
I have been struggling so much with this. I want to be content to do the small things, but ambition floods my heart with anxieties and an illusion of failure. The lack of success I see in my life easily leads me to believe I am not living up to the (non-existent) expectations set on me.
There is a place inside of me that is always wishing that I could do and be more. That God would use me in bigger ways. I’m sure it stems from a place of pride, a place that’s trying to prove my worth to others and be esteemed in their eyes. But the message of the saints is repeated over and over again. Do. Small. Things.
As I find myself simultaneously asking God for a small simple life full of humility and a life doing great things for him I am sure he laughs at me. I must start with humility because he is the greatness. Mother Teresa’s life echoes this paradox perfectly. As she bowed down in humility, giving her life up to God, she was made great.
I am so thankful for these living examples of people who chose to follow God with their whole heart. Mother Teresa, in particular, has always encouraged me in times of doubt and confusion. She has helped me stay the course.
We all need people to look up to and follow. Are you looking for encouragement or a way to start the path to a deeper faith? Mother Teresa has been a great resource for me and many others.
May we imitate her humility and simplicity as we go out and serve the Lord in everyone we meet, especially the members of our family.
