“Intense love does not measure it just gives”
Mother Teresa‟s whole life has been that of giving and doing for the love of Christ and humankind. She was born on August 26, 1910 in Macedonia. Her real name was Agnes Gonxhe Bojaxhiu. She joined the Loreto Novitiate on May 23, 1929. After her first profession she was known as Sr. Teresa after her patroness St. Theresa of Avila. After her final profession she was to be known as Mother Teresa following the Loreto custom. Mother Teresa had a life changing experience while on her journey from Calcutta to Darjeeling. She received a “call within a call”, she saw people in pain and decided to love and work for those deprived of love. Thus began her journey. Many were impressed by her service and collaborated with her, and hence was born the congregation of Missionaries of Charity. Mother Teresa‟s life can be summed up by just contemplating at her face. In the silence it speaks a million words loud and clear.
As I was gazing at a image of her face, each part either reminded me of an experience or told me a story.
“The world today is hungry not only for bread but hungry for love; hungry to be wanted to be loved.”
Head and Forehead- Her forehead not or hardly visible due to her sari, no hair or short hair on her covered head shows detachment from the world like most female religious. This reminded me of an incident. Once when in school we friends were fooling with scissors in the absence of the teacher. There was a girl who was resting her head on the desk, I caught a strand of her hair and pretended to cut it. She exclaimed in furry anything but my hair „hair is one of the most priceless possessions for a girl… Please don‟t mess with it‟. I was shocked and embarrassed. But looking at Mother Teresa I don‟t think her hair was a possession she cherished, she was more focused on serving those who lacked the basic necessities of life.
“I am so used to seeing the smile on our people, even the dying ones smile.”
Eyes- Her eyes were always filled with compassion and never did any one whom she serve doubt her. It is because they saw love in her eyes. Though her eyes were old and weary, she never looked at her self but at others, and did not stop at that she made sure she did something about it. Once I said to a friend of mine I am really jealous of your charcoal black eyes. He was all puffed up and proudly said that many have commented on his eyes and thus he has decided to donate them once he dies. Wow! Firstly nice eyes, and added to that, noble intentions. I must say I was
impressed, (but not) until I thought of this incident in context with that of the life of Mother
Teresa. She really made good use of her eyes when she was alive to see, and seek for those living
in misery. The boy‟s intention was not bad, but not good enough in comparison.
“The poor are very great people they can teach us many beautiful things.”
Nose- She had a nice plump rounded nose. I am sure she could smell well. Saying about her nose
reminds me of an incident of which I was a part. Few years ago I had visited a convent of
Missionaries of Charity. There was a man rotting to death brought in by the ambulance. The
sisters immediately rushed towards the van. I quickly covered my nose because the smell was
unbearable. Now reflecting back I wonder how the sisters were able to clean up that person
without any sign of disgust. I marvel, if the followers are so committed the founder must have
really lived an exemplary life. And I am sure that Mother Teresa did not have any olfactory
defect. I guess she was able to do this because of the love, by which all her senses were
possessed.
Mouth- her mouth more than receiving gave. Why do I say this? Mother Teresa always had
something good to say about those she met. She received a lot from others on account of her hard
work. Apart from things, she was also offered food which she first gave to those under her care
and only then did she think about herself. I know of an elderly lady who was filthy rich. Her
mouth knew only to boast of her own self and hog at places where she was invited because of her
superior statues. And yet she complained about the places and people she encountered. What a
contrast between these two women, I said to myself. One had nothing with her yet with a smile
said and also did good things, the other had most of the things needed but always grumbled and
expected more and more from others.
“We can do no great things only small things with great love”
Facial skin- finally when I look at her face with creases all over, it looks like a parched land
without water. Her sunken cheeks and wrinkled pink chin shows all the hard work she has done
over the period of a lifetime without concentrating on her own looks. As I was putting to paper
my thoughts, I remembered an advertisement of a female facial cream which said „to be accepted
by people around you, you need to look fair, young and need to have smooth skin‟. The ad
assured to make one look younger and fight all the signs of aging. If I am not mistaken Mother
Teresa was not only accepted by those around her but practically by the whole world. It is not
only the exterior looks that make one beautiful but also the qualities of the heart. Along with our
exterior appearance let us also concentrate on the growth of our interior life. We all are saints
and we need to live like one.
“How can we love God whom we do not see, if we do not love our neighbor‟s whom we see,
whom we touch with whom we live?”
