Missionary of charity
One of the greatest examples of Christian love in the twentieth century was without a doubt Mother Teresa. Born in Macedonia to Albanian parents, she felt a call to ministry at the age of 12, and six years later joined the Sisters of Loreto as a missionary.
In 1948 Mother Teresa, in what she later described as “the call within the call,” left the convent to go live among the poor in Calcutta, India. She helped begin a new community called the Missionaries of Charity. When asked what it was about, Mother Teresa surprised the person by answering,
“…to care for the hungry, the naked, the homeless, the crippled, the blind, the lepers, all those people who feel unwanted, unloved, uncared for throughout society, people that have become a burden to the society and are shunned by everyone.”
Later in her life, after years of such incredible impact that her name a household word, Mother Teresa revealed a significant insight when she said,
“Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.”
Small things
Jesus said, “Anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name does it unto to me.” In saying this, Jesus shows that it is not just the big things that count, but also small things. Small gestures of kindness and love: giving a cup of water, an act of acceptance, a kind word, a smile, taking time to bake someone a cake or write a card, or sitting with someone who is sick. Little things, which in themselves may not seem like much, but make a difference.
The prophet Zechariah wrote,
Do not despise these small beginnings. (Zechariah 4:10)
It tends to be the big gestures that get recognized and celebrated, but God says “Don’t despise the small things.” Just as a house is built from lots of small bricks, so the small things you do build into something much bigger.
Things that you do unto the Lord are never wasted. They always make a difference. No act of kindness is too small. The gift of your kindness starts as a small ripple, but over time turns into a tidal wave affecting the lives of many.
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