Bring Beauty into the World

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I came across a phrase in a book titled Do Something Beautiful for God.  The book is a daily meditation on the teachings of St. Teresa of Calcutta.  On January 16th, there was a paragraph encouraging us to do little acts of kindness because they are a way that we “give our love of God concrete expression.”

What a beautiful sentiment.  How do you give your love of God “concrete expression”?

There can be so many things that we can and should do in this life that challenge us, but they are often met with our internal conflict as we try to preserve our preferences over sacrifice.

Maybe your whole schedule has been disrupted by a parent who needs your time and attention.  Or maybe the whole school schedule caused by the pandemic is requiring you to constantly adjust your plans.  Perhaps that needy friend wants to talk more than you have time for or you are picking up a coworker’s slack temporarily.

Whatever it is, St. Teresa reminds us that doing these things is a way of loving God by loving others—and that always costs us something. 

The more we can look at these little (or sometimes big) sacrifices as an expression of our love for God, the less we will find ourselves focusing on their inconvenience to us, for they will be transformed by the love with which we do them.

With this perspective, we open our lives and hearts to the power of God, and through his grace, we are able to penetrate the world around us, bringing hope and joy where it is so desperately needed.

Janet Cassidy
janetcassidy.blogspot.com

 

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