Theresa Bareither
St. Gertrude Writing Group
St. Teresa of Calcutta is close to my heart because she is my kitchen saint. Known during her lifetime as Mother Teresa, she is the only saint thus far to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Born in 1910 in Albania, she spent most of her life and ministry in India, where she died in 1997. Pope Francis declared her a saint in 2016. She received many other awards, but the only thing important to her was the recognition of the people she served.
I had taped a printed quote of hers above my kitchen sink, and when my sister visited this summer, she took note, and sent me a properly framed print for my birthday a few weeks later. It is a ready reminder for me not to grumble or to feel put upon when my family leaves their messy dishes for me to clean. The quote is “Wash the plate, not because it is dirty, not because you were told to wash it, but because you love the person who will use it next.”
So, did Mother Teresa win the Nobel Peace Prize for encouraging people to clean their kitchens with a loving attitude? Maybe not, but the meaning behind her point is love. Just like Thérèse of Lisieux, the saint from whom she took her religious name and spiritual mode, she did all things with love. The dishes quote is a perfect example.
St. Teresa of Calcutta is one of our most quotable saints. Many of her pithy remarks delight me, and all reflect her core philosophy of love. Another of my favorites is “Peace begins with a smile.” What a great idea! Just smile at everyone you meet for a day, and notice how people reflect your smile and how much better your day goes. It costs nothing but giving of yourself.
Then, did Mother Teresa win the Nobel Peace Prize for smiling at everyone? No. And yet, the reason she did win had much to do with her smiling at the many destitute people she helped. She won it in 1979 for her work to help the world’s suffering and alleviate poverty and distress. She won it for bringing hope and dignity to the poorest of the poor. She won it for founding the Missionaries of Charity that build homes for orphans, nursing homes for lepers, and hospices for the terminally ill. More than 5,750 of her followers work in 133 countries today. No wonder she once quipped, “I know God will not give me anything I can’t handle. I just wish that He didn’t trust me so much.” Despite her incredible body of work, such remarks as these make her relatable.
I know a doctor who once spent a summer in Calcutta volunteering in one of her clinics. He told me that being in her presence and soaking up her attitude changed his life. When I catch myself doing things, saying things, thinking things that do not reflect the love that I should show to family, friends, and strangers, I can turn to her reminder that “God doesn’t require us to succeed. He only requires that you try.” With that thought in mind, I am now going up to my kitchen, ready to clean it with a smile.