“The biggest disease today is not leprosy or tuberculosis, but rather the feeling of being unwanted.” ~ Mother Teresa
«La mayor enfermedad hoy en día no es la lepra ni la tuberculosis, sino más bien el sentimiento de no ser querido.» ~ Madre Teresa
“当今最大的疾病不是麻风病或肺结核，而是不被需要的感觉。”——特蕾莎修女
A joyful heart is like the sunshine of God’s love, the hope of eternal happiness. ~ Mother Teresa
Mother Teresa’s words are a reminder that joy isn’t surface-level giddiness—it’s the deep, abiding warmth that radiates from a heart aligned with love. A joyful heart, she says, is “like the sunshine of God’s love.” Think about that. Sunshine doesn’t pick favorites. It shines freely, touching everything in its path. So does joy when it comes from the soul. It’s not based on perfect circumstances—it’s rooted in a quiet trust that love is stronger than fear, and that we’re all being gently held by something greater. That kind of joy becomes a window into eternity, a glowing promise that what we hope for—peace, love, meaning—isn’t wishful thinking. It’s already shining within us. A joyful heart doesn’t deny sorrow—it carries hope through it. So let joy rise. Even in the cracks. Especially there. That’s where sunlight always finds its way in.
“Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God’s kindness: kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile.” ~ Mother Teresa
One of the things that makes me happy is to see people smiling. When I see people smiling (not the fake posed kind, the kind that comes from the heart) I know they are happy. Smiles have a way of silently expressing a genuine love for others. Smiles are contagious. I know when I smile at someone, they return the smile. In that moment, two human beings made contact and in a silent way assured each other of life’s goodness. Each time we offer another a warm smile we are sharing a moment of peace, a moment of connection, and a moment of love. Mother Teresa said, “A smile carries a powerful message. We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do.”
In her work, Optimism, Helen Keller writes, “I long to accomplish a great and noble task; but it is my chief duty and joy to accomplish humble tasks, as though they were great and noble. It is my service to think how I can best fulfill the demands that each day makes upon me, and to rejoice that others can do what I cannot. . . . I love the good that others do; for their activity is an assurance that whether I can help or not, the true and good will stand sure. P. 15
\NOTE: There will only be a few of us in any generation who will win a Nobel Prize. Yet, those who win a Nobel Prize stand on the shoulders of the billions of people who work every day and perform tasks that will never receive any notoriety. Keller speaks of each of these unknown tasks as great and noble; Mother Teresa said it a bit differently, “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” Helen Keller and Mother Teresa give us words to live by, whatever we are doing, do it as if were, at the moment, the most important thing to do.
Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.
Life is beauty, admire it.
Life is a dream, realize it.
Life is a challenge, meet it.
Life is a duty, complete it.
Life is a game, play it.
Life is a promise, fulfill it.
Life is sorrow, overcome it.
Life is a song, sing it.
Life is a struggle, accept it.
Life is a tragedy, confront it.
Life is an adventure, dare it.
Life is luck, make it.
Life is too precious, do not destroy it.
Life is life, fight for it.
“Love begins by taking care of the closest ones – the ones at home.” ~ Mother Teresa
