2019-03-28
Mother Teresa
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There is a statement that we use in culture when there is a considerable obstacle to undertake or person that you struggle to love. You know the question: "Who am I, Mother Teresa?" Yes, it's true, we can't all be like this woman who offered so much of herself even at a young age. When little girls were playing with dolls and playing games as all children do, Mother Teresa, also known as Teresa of Calcutta, was more attracted to aiding the poor. The feeling was something that she could not shake. Her dream was realized after being accepted into the Sisters of Loreto of Ireland at 18. She took her first vows in 1931 and asked to be named after the French Catholic Saint Therese of Lisieux, the patron Saint of Missionaries. Mother Teresa served in India and established hospitals, soup kitchens and the Missionaries of Charity in 1950. Her humanitarian work remains unprecedented and her sacrifice remains a model of something that we all should pay attention to. "We fear the future because we are wasting the today," she wrote. Are you wasting time today out of fear? Learn from Mother Teresa on how to live your best life now.

Serve others.

"I see somebody dying, I pick him up. I find somebody hungry, I give him food. He can love and be loved. I don't look at his color, I don't look at his religion. I don't look at anything. Every person whether he is Hindu, Muslim or Buddhist, he is my brother, my sister," she said an interview. Being kind doesn't have to be a chore, it can be something you choose to do every day.
Feed the homeless, buy someone lunch that you don't know, help out a single mother or serve at the church. The point is to get out of your little box and while it helps others, it will feed your soul as well.

Live in the present.

"The future is so much in the hands of God, I find it much more easy to accept today because yesterday is gone and tomorrow has not come and I have only today," Mother Teresa said. What she was talking about was living in the present, something we lack in our lives today. Some people are removing unneeded possessions and living a life of minimalism. For example, you can remove all things that are related to your past because this can impact the way you live now. You can chill out more and refuse to rush through everything you do to get to the next task. If you have 5 minutes to drink a coffee in the morning, do it. Enjoy it for what it is, a moment in the present that can be enjoyed. Go outside for fresh air, or go for a walk with friends or family. Living in the present takes the pressure off and allows you to have a break. When we are always worried about tomorrow, we lose the value of today.

“The biggest disease today is not leprosy or tuberculosis, but rather the feeling of being unwanted."
Be grateful.

Mother Teresa traveled extensively as a missionary and did not let the food served aboard her planes go to waste. “There are many people who can do big things, but there are very few people who will do the small things,” she said.
If you grapple with sadness or keep having bad days, think upon your blessings. Gratitude also can calm the chaos in your life. "The best way to show our gratitude to God and the people is to accept everything with joy. A joyful heart is the unavoidable result of a heart burning with love," she added.

Make people feel wanted.

“The biggest disease today is not leprosy or tuberculosis, but rather the feeling of being unwanted,” she said. Offer encouragement to people today and let them know you appreciate them. All of us need to be reminded that we are loved and cherished. Send a note of encouragement to someone today. Buy a Starbucks card for a colleague who always helps you. You get the drift, be like Mother Teresa and make people feel wanted. In the process, it will make you feel good.

Make an impact.

Mother Teresa said she was a pencil in the hand of a writing God who sends a love letter to the world. She was referring to becoming a messenger for God and being used for His Glory. Yet, we can experience the same thing. Seek God on where He wants you. Maybe He's tugging on your heart and desiring you to change course. This can be changing your job or taking your company in another direction. Maybe it's time to get back to church and being part of helping your community thrive. If you don't have a clue, jot down what some of your passions are and pray over it. Ask the Lord for direction. Mother Teresa worked in the slums and wanted people to accept society's poor.
She walked in her gifts and in God's authority and so can we. Mother Teresa's personal letters were released in 2007, and they shared her inner struggles. In 1962 she said if she ever became a Saint she surely be one of darkness.

Remain focused.

When many of us feel like we’re lost in our lives and feel like there is no hope, we tend to let go of our faith. Mother Teresa went through challenges but worked hard to keep her focus on her calling and on God. If you're sinking at work or in your personal life, this is when we need to cast our cares on Christ and find Scriptures to encourage us.

This visionary, under her Missionaries of Charity, had over 600 charities worldwide in 123 countries. This includes running education programs for children, helping people with HIV/AIDS and soup kitchens. She found causes that she was passionate about, you too should find a passion that will inspire others to do the same. If we all did this, we might find our true calling in life. Mother Teresa’s relevance remains strong today and if we can recapture her spirit after so many years and use it in our worlds, life can be pretty fabulous and meaningful.
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