Saintly Mentorship
Art on my nightstand by Abbey Giedraitis.
St. Teresa of Calcutta
When life gets too hard or maybe too comfortable, the wise words from the Saints help us find the courage and stamina we need for modern life.
St. Teresa of Calcutta is one of my favorites. Here are some ways her wisdom has helped me.
“Do not wait for leaders: do it alone, person to person.”
This quote helps during elections. When we vote in elections for specific laws or initiatives that don’t pass, the loss is frustrating, and the blame game can set in.
After one particular election loss, this quote made me realize I still have the power to act. I went online and discovered a few nonprofits that would suffer in the wake of the election results. They had Amazon wish lists for items needed to support the communities they serve. I purchased them, and they arrived within a few days.
Elections can be a reminder to take action, no matter the outcome. Have a post-election to-do list, and whether your side wins or loses, you become a volunteer or donor in support of your cause.
“Each one of them is Jesus in disguise.”
The beggars in the intersections posed a dilemma for me for the longest time. People have many opinions on this topic, arguing that it perpetuates more problems.
St. Teresa cuts through the excuses and gets to the point with this quote.
I decided to keep a few gift cards for food in our car instead of cash to hand to beggars we pass.
If the beggars are scammers or addicts, that is between them and God. I can feed them.
If they are genuinely in need and I pass them by, that is between God and me.
”When asked how to pray, Mother Teresa touched each of her five fingers and said, “You. Did. It. To. Me.” (A short prayer created from Mat 25:34-40)
The simplest prayer from this saint, who rescued hundreds of people who were filthy and dying in the slums of India, now helps me when cleaning up things like vomit. I had four kids and taught first grade. I have been around a lot of vomit in my days.
“God does not require us to succeed; he only requires that you try.”
I love the mindset shift of this quote. Trying means rolling up my sleeves and doing the task at hand. Hard or easy. For one person or many.
Trying is less intimidating.
Trying invites risk-taking, experimenting, and learning from mistakes.
Trying means letting go of ego and the pursuit of perfection.
Trying is what it means to be human in the effort put forth.
“Live simply so others may simply live.”
I hate that I struggle with this so much.
It is such a battle to manage clothing as a woman. What is in and what is out? What matches, and what clashes? What fits and what doesn’t? What to save for special occasions, holidays, or vacations? How many coats, shoes, purses, and earrings do I need?
I have gone through my closet so many times, donating and thinning it out, only to make a purchase here and there and have it build up again.
I like Steve Jobs' uniform of black shirts and jeans, but for women in our culture, it is more challenging. Words like prudence and temperance, I know, need to be out in front for me here. I am a work in progress.
What saints have you learned from? What are your favorite quotes?