Small Things, Great Love

There are so many people I could list as my hero: my parents, Abraham Lincoln, Amelia Earhart. These people have influenced my life and motivated to be a greater person. However, if I were to choose one person whose message I find important it would be Mother Theresa. While I admire her dedication to the poor of India and her purely giving lifestyle, the thing I find most important about her life is her message towards volunteerism. My favorite quote of Mother Theresa’s says, “We can do no great things; just small things with great love.” This statement amazed me as Mother Theresa was a woman actually doing great things; she loved her neighbors enough to give up a comfortable life and live in the slums with them. I haven’t done anything like this, and that’s why I find this quote so motivating. Mother Theresa seems to say that it is alright if I haven’t single handedly fed the entire country of Malaysia as long as the small things I do are done with great love. There are so many incredible young people out there who have started their own charities and have given all their Christmas money to the food bank. I haven’t done anything like that and was beginning to feel my contributions to others weren’t enough. I worked with the local trading card program (an anti-substance mentoring program to fourth grade students) and spent hours volunteering at the local migrant program during the summer, but these weren't making an impact on a national or worldly scale. However, after reading this quote I realized my small effort was enough because I love my migrant kids and fourth graders with all of my heart. It doesn’t matter that I have never raised millions of dollars; I give great underdogs during recess and have cradled several babies in my arms. I give my heart in every minute I am working and that is what Mother Theresa believes is the most important. Although she led an incredible life, Mother Theresa is my hero because she understood that true giving is not a matter of size, but a matter of love.

The His'er Problem

This is my short response to our class discussion. With the age we grew up in, the issues dealing with women's equality aren't as prevalent. I don't think it should be a matter of what we think, but a matter of respect towards other peoples' opinions. For example, at many cathedrals in Europe they request that people entering cover their knees and shoulders. While I may not find this necessary, I will don a sweater because it matters to them. Although it is not an important subject to me, it is a matter of respect to comply with their wishes. In the same way, many men and women might not see the importance of saying he and she, but if it matters to someone else we should comply. It is all a matter of respect.

Songs and Snow

It’s Christmas Eve and my entire family including my uncle Geno and Grandma Dolores are crammed in my Grandma’s car, huddled under our fat winter coats. The snow flutters down outside as we drive down the country roads to my Grandma’s house after the Christmas Eve service. Before long we start singing; usually we start with Christmas is Coming, the Goose is Getting Fat. After our mixed harmony we precede into the classics: Silent Night, White Christmas, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Some songs we sing in a round and others all together. Mom and Sara add the harmonies while Ash, Geno, and I carry the melody. Occasionally my dad who doesn’t enjoy singing will mutter the words under his breath. As we turn down Elmdale road towards the house with the blue star on the roof, we start O How Lovely is the Evening. My mom starts softly, “O How lovely is the evening, is the evening; when the bells are sweetly ringing, sweetly ringing.” Sara and Grandma join together, and finally Ash and I add our voices. By the last “ding, dong” of the bells, tears well in our eyes as we remember Grandpa Joe and his favorite carol.

In many ways, my family is like this ride home on a crisp Christmas night. Our lives intertwine just likes the chords we sing. We push through the times of trial and sadness in the same way we sing through the impossible high notes in Silent Night. We are a mixture of the classic Adeste Fidelis and the modern Up on the house Top. My song is not complete without the complimentary voices of my family. We remember our past and sing with our hearts. Not even the raging weather outside effects us because we have all we want and need stuffed in the backseat of my grandma’s car.