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Small Things Great Love

"We can do no great things...only small things with great love." Mother Teresa
There it is! Eureka! Ah-Ha! Elation, joy, and excitement, lights flashing, trumpets blowing! I get it! I get it! I finally get it and I'm so exited about this revelation that I can hardly write it down fast enough so that I can share it with you later on my blog.
"It" has been in front of me all this time. My favorite quote, for so many years, has finally revealed to me my truth, my meaning.....the answer to the constant nagging questions burning in my heart.....Will I ever do something great?......Isn't there something far greater that God intended for me to do with my life?
While asking myself these same old questions today, this quote came into my mind very strong. "Small things.....Great love". Boom! It hit me! Stop pushing so hard for that ONE GREAT THING.....that great craft book, the greatest piece of art ever, you get what I mean.
Take every day and every little opportunity to do small things with GREAT LOVE and live your life to the fullest every single day....one day at a time. Every day do little things to make other people happy. Give lovingly of compliments and little recognitions such as birthdays. If you find a particularly heart warming article in a magazine, share it with others. Little things- great love. Do you understand? I believe that if I start trying to live more in the present and for today that the rewards will come through peace in my heart.
I would love to know your thoughts on this. I would love to know if this makes since to you. I would love to know that my journey has had a positive impact on you. Please leave your comments. I love them and cherrish them.
Some small things you can do with Great Love
1. Sneak a sweet note in your spouse's/lover's lunch or book bag
2. Warm up someones bath towel in the dryer while they are showering and hand it to them when they finish showering. It will be a warm and nice surprise!
3. Sign up for a birthday reminder service online (here is one that I use) and start asking your friends and family to sign in or give you their birthdate. You will receive notices. Then....recognize their birthday in some way. It does not have to be an expensive thing.
4. Remember names-Figure out a way.....that makes people feel so good
5. Give compliments freely. If you feel it say it!
6. Copy feel good articles and share them with people that like this sort of thing.
7. Listen-Just stop and listen to someone.....stop talking, make eye contact, and listen and encourage and support....make it about them today....not you!
8. Send a card or letter by snail mail.....email is nice but getting a nice card in your mail box is so tangible and wonderful...Do MAIL ART! OH I HAVE GOT TO DO THAT SOMETIME!!!
9. If you make a cake for your family, take half of it to a neighbor......you don't need all that cake! They will be so happy!
10. Do Gorilla art! Make a little ATC or some kind of art and leave an inspiring message on it and drop it in a public place for someone to pick up. It just might make their day. If you have never heard of gorilla art, google it. It is so cool.
11. I know that times are tough economically but just once try paying for the car behind you at the fast food drive through if you have a little extra and check out the smiles in your rearview mirror.
12. Volunteer for community project.
13. Send another idea to Lesley (Funky Art Queen) on how we can do small things with great love.

Comments

Deb said…
Well said! I am inspired! Thank you.
Sashi said…
I love this post, Lesley! Here a few little things I do for much the same reason. :)

*If I get something from the vending machine at work, I always put in enough change for a 2nd item before I walk away. I call it my "naughty tax" but it ends up being a surprise for the next person since they won't have to pay for their snack.

*I let cars merge ahead of me if they need to get in my lane during bumper-to-bumper traffic or road construction. And if someone only has a few items, I let them go ahead of me in the check out line at the store.

*I deal with multiple departments everyday via e-mail at work so every once in a while, I send a thank you e-mail letting them know I appreciate how much they help me even though it is a part of their daily responsibility. A nice side effect of that has been that I seem to have less problems with these departments than my co-workers when it comes to how quickly and accurately my tasks are completed. :)
Deb said…
So, I've been pondering on your post...especially; 'My favorite quote, for so many years, has finally revealed to me my truth, my meaning.....the answer to the constant nagging questions burning in my heart.....Will I ever do something great?......Isn't there something far greater that God intended for me to do with my life?'
Have to wonder, is this an 'artist' thing...this desire to live up to our full potential? Is this universal? Think this is part of the panic I had after visiting my 85 year old step dad in nursing home...I love your insight and feel it's truth...so glad you shared...I will ponder more. ps: noted your status yesterday? as missing your son so much..is he at college? if so...I can relate to that too!
ha!
Anonymous said…
I love this post. The shame is that you don't realize the impact you have on people on a daily basis. You have always had the ability to make people feel good about themselves without even trying. MOM
FAQ said…
Sashi, I love your ideas for small things great love! You are awesome. Thanks MOM...you are a little biased though don't you think? Thanks also to Magnificent Debra-son is in Air force in MIssissippi and will deploy any time.....just learning to cope with that. Also, I don't think that the need to do something great with one's life is just an artist thing....it is a human thing....and it becomes more apparent as we get older....it is a stage in life.....there is such a great need to have purpose and reason for our existence. Thanks for your kind comments.
Poetic Artist said…
This is a wonderful post..I think it is so true..We forget about the small and simple things that make life wonderful..We are all always waiting for the big thing we should do and forget about the small things.
Thank you,
Katelen
FAQ said…
Sashi, also I love the "naughty tax" idea.....too funny!
Deb said…
Ah-ha! Now I've had my light-bulb moment. I had blogged about feeling panicked after visiting my step-dad in the nursing home..and not understanding what it was about...That's it...A need for meaning and reason for existence...I'm empty nesting and that means a lot of change and recreating who I am...I will pray for son in Air Force...I can only imagine your feelings around this.
Unity Prayer:
The light of God surrounds him
The love of God enfolds him
The power of God protects him
Where ever he is...God is. Amen.
Here is my something small.....Each and everyday day I enjoy seeing your beautiful art as it greets me by my front door. I love my red kitty!
Debbie said…
I love this whole way of thinking! And I agree with you. Little things definitely have an impact and add up.
Hi Lesley:)

Greetings:)

Very inspiring quote. Mother Teresa was a poor, little, frail woman and she did little things with great love. She achieved world wide recognition for her endearing work and her little things became a mammoth organization taking care of the poorest of the poor and suffering. She could walk into any ones office including the presidents and prime ministers offices and get a grand reception. Her face is one of the most recognized faces all over the world. She has left back an organization which will never die and will remain till the end of the world. How amazing. DOING LITTLE THINGS WITH GREAT LOVE.

I am reminded of the flower. Whether the flower is in your flower vase or in a well maintained garden or in a remote place, it just remains as beautiful as ever in its short period of life even if there is no one to appreciate it. It just does its duty of being beautiful and sing God’s glory.

A very fine book that come to my mind is by Dale Carnegie under the heading HOW TO WIN FRIENDS AND INFLUENCE PEOPLE. A wonderful book.

As human beings we always crave for name and fame. We want to be in the lime light. Mother Teresa did little things with great love but I think she also had a PASSION FOR EXCELLENCE and a great faith in GOD to work wonders for her.

Your words are very powerful and highly motivational.

Once in a way I buy a lunch or dinner or breakfast for a poor person if I get a chance. Sometimes I give a fairly large amount to a beggar if I feel that person deserves it. I used buy note books for a poor headload worker’s daughter.

Well this is a wonderful post and I think you should climb on the tallest building and preach it loudly so that all can hear loud and clear. The world will surely become a better place to live in.

Have a wonderful day Lesley:)
Joseph
Lisa said…
oh les i remember us talking about this a Texas Burger! it is so very true though. you crack me up with the "small recognition such as birthdays" and yes we all know how important your birthday is!!! great post girl and such deep thought! loved it and you.

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