Do small things...

I love this quote from Mother Teresa:

"We can do no great things, only small things with great love."

When I was a young mom with five Littles always hanging on my ankles or perched upon my hip, I remember thinking that it was hard to get Anything done.  By "anything", I mean anything!  It seemed like there was always a basket of laundry that didn't get folded or a stack of dishes that never seemed to shrink.  The floor always needed sweeping and the family always needed feeding.  Just managing the basics was task enough, but I wanted to do Other Things too like sewing, embroidering, reading or trying my hand at watercolors.  Once in a while I would leave off scrubbing the floor from my to-do list for just a few minutes of sewing time.

I remember how I would plan out a sewing project.  One day I would cut out the pattern, the next day I would pin down the pattern and cut out the fabric.  On another day I would take just 15 minutes and see how much I could sew.  Eventually, with 15-20 minute tidbits of time, I could complete a project.  Small things, great love.

I think most of us believe that the chores we do at home day after day really aren't all that weighty in the great scheme of life.  They certainly aren't always noticeable, that is, unless they are left undone for any length of time.  It's a list of small things, not great things we do, but when you piece them all together like a patchwork quilt, all those little tiny pieces stitched together turn into a thing of beauty.   Every needle threaded, every little block sewn to another, every thoughtful deed done counts toward the Big Beautiful Quilt of Your Life. 

Then there is the Great Love part.  When we love someone, we don't mind doing the dishes for him, and we don't mind teaching him how to do the dishes for others.  We read a favorite story to a wee one over and over and over again even though we'd like to read something new.  We rub sore shoulders, we knit warm socks, we bake cookies and share them, we stay up late and talk on the phone to a child far from home -- doing small things with great love.

I embroidered the tea towel above as a little birthday gift for a dear friend.  She is someone who does lots of small things with great love, and I wanted her to have something to remind her that what she does, matters.  Small things like drying dishes is important to her family and to God.  Even when nobody else sees all these little things, you can rest assured that God does, and He smiles.  The patchwork quilt is taking shape!

Do small things with great love pattern can be found at Nana Company.  Thank you, Amy!