“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” St. Therese of Lisieux
Yesterday, I started writing in the blog. Actually finished an entry and it lays in wait in the “draft form.” It felt contrived and rushed, and so it waits for another day…..Ironically, the quote I used in the context of the blog entry, unrelated in topic, was the one above. One of my favorites. Today, St. Therese’s feast day, seems like a perfect day to reflect on one of her most famous quotes.
Who doesn’t remember being a small child and having grandiose ideas of what he/she will accomplish in life? A week or so ago I was talking late at night with my oldest son, who informed me he had lived roughly “1/5th of his life, and hadn’t accomplished anything.” Rather deep concept for a 15-year-old, I thought. Somewhat morose even. But before I was quick to judge, I fortunately had a albeit brief memory of being his age and thinking to myself “what am I to do with my life” on a fairly regular basis. I probed more….. “What do you mean? Can you tell me more?” Rather than try to analyze or fix or minimize his concerns…I sat and listened.
I left him with a final thought “If you are feeling like you need to do more with your life, like you need to make an impact in this world, figure out what it is and I will support you 100%. But please, don’t sit by the sidelines waiting for life to happen…get out there and do something great!”
Something great. Does not mean something grandiose or spectacular, rather something simple but done with great love that makes an impact in our society.
I heard on the news today that a 10-year-old decided he/she wanted to forgo birthday presents this year and instead had friends/family donate to a local police department, so they could buy police dogs bullet proof vests. Small thing, with great love.
Anytime someone in our local parish/school is ill or experiencing a difficult time, within moments someone sends out a google doc to sign up to bring meals to the family. Small thing, with great love.
When my cousin’s daughter was born with Down’s Syndrome, a now friend of mine (who at the time I really barely knew) made a beautiful blanket for this little girl and my cousins, whom she has never met. Small thing, with great love.
Two of our neighbors have experienced hardships over the past year for different reasons, and without fanfare or desire for acknowledgement, my husband, without fail, cuts their lawns so they don’t have to worry about it. Small thing, with great love.
This year, as I set out to run my 4th marathon, I will do so in honor of the courageous men, women and children affected by cancer in our community. Though I cannot cure them, I can run and fundraise money to support our local Gilda’s Club, so no one has to face cancer alone. Small thing, with great love.
I hope that our children learn by witnessing in our small acts and those around them, the lesson that all of us are not called to do great things, but we are ALL called to do small things, with great love.
What are you called to do?
Peace and love. Happy October 1. Happy St. Therese Feast Day. Happy 26 days until Marine Corps Marathon. Bring it!
****If you are want to support my efforts to support Gilda’s Club, please visit my fundraising page at http://gildasclubmetrodetroit.kintera.org/MichelleTWarren If I don’t ask, they don’t receive. So this is my attempt to do something small, with great love.
peaceinthejourney 