“I am not sure exactly what heaven will be like, but I know that when we die and it comes time for God to judge us, God will not ask, ‘How many good things have you done in your life?’ Rather God will ask, ‘How much love did you put into what you did?’”
These words of Mother Teresa help us remember that when done with love, each action we do matters. It can be overwhelming and discouraging to think about the many aspects of life where help is needed to right wrongs, to assist people in need, and to work toward a more just world. We must counteract the tendency toward discouragement by remembering that actions we do with genuine concern and caring help not only at the time we’re doing them, but often have a ripple effect. Both directly, as when a person who receives assistance then chooses to help others, and also in less direct ways. It’s as if the spirit of the act of kindness makes its way to and through others.