Fashion Stories & Dirty Laundry

I have only two things in common with Mother Theresa. One is a birthday, August 26th,* and the other is our love for India, a country that we weren’t born in, nor had any previous connection to (that we know of). That is it. I am obviously ‘no saint’, not even close. Nor do I think I could make the vows she made and surrender a life fully for others like she did. I can only do small things and I accept it.

Recently I started tutoring at a private school and on my break this week, I enjoyed a quiet library and read a beautiful, pictorial biography on Mother Theresa.

I read with awe about her vow to poverty, her endless energy for others, her lack of vanity. Sigh. How did she ever eat so simple and never get her nails done?

However, I do know that her life was a unique calling. God does not call everyone to that lifestyle. I remind myself of that as I check the calendar for my next hair appointment. I wince.

But slight joking aside. Here is a woman who completely emptied herself to fill herself with God’s Love for others. The pictures of her with her orphans, the sick, and her love for all mankind is inspiring. And while I will never be her, I can do what I am called to do with the resources given to me. We are all in the same ‘boat’ – just different sizes and responsibilities.

Ravi and I recently sent a large box to India filled with clothes, many of them Indian pieces, gifts, fun things etc. I am moved at the photos that I received back and the smiling faces. Many of the pictures are holding Ravi’s picture, that I tossed in at the end and certainly not for self-promotion, only to give a personal thank you. The irony of giving, is that it blesses the giver more than the recipient. It humbles me to see his picture held in almost all their pics. It makes my heart tug. It makes me want to do more. Anything I’ve done in the past is inadequate.

We have so much here in The States and yet, most of us are in a constant state of wanting more, getting more, hoarding more to ourselves. I’m including myself in the USA stereotype.

Some may think it’s arrogant of me to even ‘type the name’ Mother Theresa within the body of my very average Blog. Who I am? I see your point. But she continues to inspire us and for that, I think it’s allowed. Let us all continue to do more and be more.

Featured here: Chandra Sekhar Konda and community, East Godavari, AP, India.

You may contact him at csrrock@yahoo.com or contact me directly via this Blog and I will get back to immediately.

Thank you-C. Nor

 

*some data states her birthday as August 27th, if so, that’s also an honor, as that’s my mom’s birthday.