LOVE- The words and inspiration of Mother Teresa

This is from the Archbishop Desmond Tutu's book

' LOVE- The words and inspiration of Mother Teresa'

In Mother Teresa’s Nobel acceptance speech she told a simple story meant to illustrate the work she and her sisters undertook, but which served equally, if unintentionally, to say much about the laureate: “One evening we went out and we picked up four people from the street. And one of them was in a most terrible condition. And I told the Sisters: ‘You take care of the other three; I will take care of this one that looks worse.’ So I did for her all that my love can do. I put her in bed, and there was such a beautiful smile on her face. She took hold of my hand, as she said one word only: ‘Thank you’- and she died.” In this anecdote resides the humanity of the short wrinkled woman with the intense eyes and ready smile called Mother Teresa.

Mike Nicol

Cape Town, 2006   

Mother Teresa’s Words and inspiration

"It is giving that we receive."

"We do not need guns and bombs to bring peace. We need love and compassion."

"Love begins at home, and it is not how much we do, but how much love we put into what we do."

"We learn humility through accepting humiliations cheerfully."

"The biggest disease today is not leprosy or tuberculosis, but rather the feeling of unwanted, uncared for and deserted by everybody. The greatest evil is the lack of love and charity, the terrible indifference toward one’s neighbor.."

"A smile is beginning of love."

"Do not allow yourself to be disheartened by any failure as long as you have done your best."

"Joy is love- a joyful heart is the normal result of a heart burning with love, for she gives most who gives with joy."

"Only humility will lead us to unity, and unity to peace."

"I do not agree with the big way of doing things. To us what matters is an individual. To get love the person we must come in close contact with him. If we wait till we get the numbers, then we will be lost in the numbers. And we will never be able to show that love and respect for the person."

"Be kind to each other- I prefer you make mistakes in kindness, that that you work miracles in unkindness."

"Joy is strength."

"In these times of development, everybody is in a hurry and everybody’s in a rush, and on the way there are people falling down, who are not able to compete. These are the ones we want to love and serve and take care of."

"Nakedness is not only for piece of cloth. Nakedness is for human dignity, for respect. Homelessness is not only for home made of bricks. Homelessness is being rejected, unwanted, unloved, uncared for, having forgotten what human love is, what human touch is."

"Let us not make mistake- that the hunger is only for a piece of bread. The hunger of today is so much greater: for love- to be wanted, to be loved, to be cared for, and to be somebody."

"We cannot condemn, judge, or speak words that might hurt.. By what right then, can we condemn anyone?"

"Let us be very sincere in our dealings with each other and have the courage to accept each other as we are."

"Humility is truth."

"I beg you with my whole heart to work for, to labor for God’s peace and to be reconciled with one another.. In the short term there may be winners and losers in this war what we all dread, but that never can, nor never will justify the suffering, pain, and loss of life which your weapons will cause.. Please choose the way of peace.. You may win the war but what will the cost be on people who are broken, disabled and lost."

"Love is a fruit always in season, and no limit is set. Everyone can reach this love."

"What you can do, we cannot do, and what we can do, you cannot do, but together we can do something beautiful."

"How do we love? Not in big things, but in small things with great love."

"Peace begins with a smile."

"All words will be useless unless they come from within."

"If all the money that is being spent on finding ways to kill people was used instead to feed them and house them, clothe them and educate them- how beautiful that would be. We are too often afraid of the sacrifices we might have to make. But where there is true love, there is joy and peace."

"I repeat that it is not what we do, but how much love we put into doing it."

"To work without love is slavery."

"We can do no great things-only small things with great love."

"Never let anyone coming to you without coming away better and happier."

"Everybody should see kindness in your face, in your eyes, in your smile, in your warm greeting."

"Intense love does not measure-it just gives."

"We cannot solve all the problems in the world, but let us never bring in the worst problem of all, and that is to destroy love."

"We must never be preoccupied with the future. There is no reason to be so."

"Thoughtfulness is the beginning of great sanctity."

"We know that if we really want to love we must learn to forgive."

"We must never think anyone of us indispensable. "

"We have no time to listen to the poor-often they have to come again and again-walk long distances-sick, tired, in pain-to tell us their want-of their suffering, and we, because we are busy about many things, we have no time to sit at their feet and listen.. To all those who suffer and are lonely-give them always a happy smile-give them not only your ears but also your heart."

"Kindness has converted more people than zeal, science, or eloquence."

"Love the poor. Do you know the poor of your place, of your city? Find them. Maybe they are right in your own family."

"Hunger is not only for a piece of bread. Hunger is for love."

"Works of love are always works of peace."

"We are all capable of good and evil. We are not born bad: everybody has something good inside. Some hide it, some neglect it, but it is there."

END.~~~