“Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.”
This quote by Mother Teresa helps me to remember that every effort we make toward the good matters. Those efforts include helping others; endeavoring to be genuine, honest, and ethical; caring about the health of our earth; and trying to discern and follow our inner wisdom.
An example of where it has helped me to remember that seemingly small things matter is in my work as a crisis line counselor. At times I feel somewhat disheartened because I want to assist the person who has called but I feel limited in what I’m able to do. They might be struggling with depression and/or anxiety, relationship problems, perhaps loneliness. Even though I know it would be arrogant of me to think I could make a big difference in their lives, I find myself wanting to lift the burden that is weighing them down. Instead, I do the things that I can do: I listen attentively, I try to have empathy and to be nonjudgmental, and I respond in a way that shows I care. When it fits the situation and the caller seems open to it, I tell her or him about coping techniques that have helped others, self-care approaches that often help in the moment. I know from personal experience and from what many callers have told me that these approaches are helpful, that they are “small things” that make a difference.
We need to keep in mind that what seem like small things can add much that is of value in all of our interactions with other people—people we know well, such as family members, friends, and coworkers, as well as people we don’t know. Mother Teresa often expressed in her speaking and writing that whatever a person does with positive intentions adds to that which is positive in our world. Through our words and our actions, we can all be a part of making our world a better place.
