Happy Labor Day – Lessons from St. Teresa of Calcutta:
Quotes and inspiration from St. Teresa of Calcutta – lessons on work, love, and faith and the importance of having them intertwined.
“Whether we are working for the rich or we are working for the poor, whether we are working with high-class people or low-class people, it makes no difference, but how much love we are putting into the work we do is what matters,” she wrote (Love: A Fruit Always in Season).
“You are God’s co-worker…. The talents God has given you are not yours. They have been given to you for your use, for the glory of God.”
“I used to pray that God would feed the hungry, or do this… or that, but now I pray that He will guide me to do whatever I’m supposed to do, what I can do.
“I used to pray for answers but now I’m praying for strength.
“I used to believe that prayer changes things, but now I know that prayer changes us, and we change things.”
In order to maintain a courageous focus in the face of difficulty, she had the poem “Do it anyway!” on a wall at her Shishu Bhavan Children’s Home (written by Dr. Kent Keith in 1968):
People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.
What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.
Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.
In the final analysis, it is between you and God.
It was never between you and them anyway.
In closing, if you are searching for guidance, pray for the intercession of St. Teresa, she vowed she would be your light!
“If I ever become a saint, I will surely be one of ‘darkness.’ I will continually be absent from Heaven to light the light of those in darkness on earth.”
Saint Teresa’s feast day is Sept. 5.
