
My friend Dr. Bill Gaultiere who has a Soul Care ministry in California, told the story of a young woman named Therese of Lisieux who lived in the late 1800’s. I'd like to share it with you today.
Therese learned that serving Jesus by caring for other people in little ways is a big deal but is deceptively simple. She called it "The Little Way", and said in short, that it was to
- seek out the menial job
- welcome unjust criticism
- befriend those who annoy us
- help those who are ungrateful.
For her part, Therese was convinced that these “trifles” pleased Jesus more than the great deeds of recognized holiness.
The beauty of "The Little Way" she said, is that it is so utterly available to everyone. From the child to the adult, from the sophisticated to the simple, from the most powerful to the least influential, ALL can undertake this ministry of small things.
Serving God in "The Little Way” doesn’t get much attention. Rather it seems that the great things done for God are applauded by large crowds. But it’s the quiet, humble way of performing “SIMPLE acts of care and kindness” that give them their great value and advances Jesus’ kingdom of heaven on earth.
"The Little Way`` - serving others like Jesus did - first of all is…….
- a blessing to Jesus as we do KIND THINGS unto the least of these…………
- then it’s a blessing to others -giving dignity and hope to those who need it desperately
- and lastly it’s a blessing to US who are DOING the simple acts of care and kindness because it helps us conquer the selfish ambition inside us and the pride of self absorption that gets in the way of the Christian life