Do small things with great love.
Waiting for Spring ~ Central Park, March 2018
While preparing for the talk coming up this weekend, I’ve been reflecting on a favourite saying of Mother Teresa, “Do small things with great love.” Our stewardship of the stuff of Creation must be rooted in the love of Jesus. Without confidence in His love our efforts become slavish and our patience becomes apathy. Soon we easily reduce ourselves to the roll of consumers. But, we are consumed.
In our great affection for celebrity we are as mindless as the kids that want to be famous. Why? They do not know. How? Most cannot imagine small things first. We are too limited. So we look only for what seems great and worthy of applause. We confirm by our longing that we need to be loved. Our hearts need a thaw. We need the Spirit’s spring and warmth to remind us that though we are a small thing in the universe we have not escaped the affectionate eye of the Father.
In 2017 a group of musicians, artists, scholars, and pastors gathered in New York City to collaborate. The Porter’s Gate Worship Project has released some wonderful music since then. Here’s another: Little Things with Great Love. Jesus often spoke of little things, acknowledge the little people, and always acted loved.
In the garden of our Savior no flower grows unseen
His kindness rains like water on every humble seed
No simple act of mercy escapes His watchful eye
For there is One who loves me
His hand is over mine
In the kingdom of the heavens no suffering is unknown
Each tear that falls is holy, each breaking heart a throne
There is a song of beauty in every weeping eye
For there is One who loves me
His heart, it breaks with mine
O the deeds forgotten, O the works unseen
Every drink of water flowing graciously
Every tender mercy You’re making glorious
This You have asked of us:
Do little things with great love
Little things with great love
At the table of our Savior, no mouth will go unfed
And His children in the shadows stream in and raise their heads
O give us ears to hear them, and give us eyes that see
For there is One who loves them. I am His hands and feet