He asked a question: How come you never become a nun?
Thoughtfully I responded: I did not hear the call.
We were discussing about Mother Teresa when she a heard call on the train on her way to Calcutta, “I Thirst.” And this become the turning point of her life. It started through little things. One thing at a time, one step at a time, one person at a time. One dying man in a gutter.
Yesterday, I called my sister just to break the silence of a beautiful rainy day.
Between coffee and still in our pajamas, we talked our ears off from ten o’clock until noon, Talked about little things. Things that matter to us. The garden, food, children, never the weather and bed bugs. Then it ended with Mother Teresa.
We ended our conversation and she followed it with an e-mail of a jpeg telling me to print it and put it up on my cubicle at work as a reminder that work is secondary.
Do it Anyway
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.
Come to think about it, I had this paradox posted at work before without the photo of Mother Teresa. Having moved to another work station, I took it down.
Memo to self: Look for the paradox and post it back.
Still, I wonder what it’s like to hear that calling.
Photographs and Memories 
I’ve seen this before, but never with the last line, “In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.” which is the real key to it all. Thanks for sharing, I’d missed that..
It came from a paradox and rewritten for Mother Teresa. Click on the photo or the word paradox, it will take you to the site that it was originally written for students leadership.
I know what you meant, Perpetua. I wonder what it’s like to hear that calling, too! I also wonder what makes it possible for someone to hear it?
Have a great day.
It’s a thirst, an unquenchable thirst, a longing that only your God can fulfill. Blessings to you, Helen
Very true and we often forget in the moment. It takes commitment to “always be kind.” It’s always worth it though.
Yup, yup, yup. Thus the slogan keep calm. And at the end of the day, kindness allows us to be at peace.