Do Small Things with Great Love

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Mother Teresa said, “Do Small Things with Great Love!”  That really sums up the life of a mother, doesn’t it?  We do so many little things throughout our days in service to our families.  I think the key is to do them with as much love as we can.  We all make mistakes.  I know I do.  However, keep asking Jesus to help you be a loving, cheerful mom in all that you do.  One great resource for remembering that everything we do for our families is really a Corporal or Spiritual Work of Mercy is  Divine Mercy For Moms.

Here is another great quote about the importance of the little things from the book, Jesus Speaking: Heart to Heart with the King:

“Give more importance to the little things.  Some are so little that you often neglect to fill them with love.  And yet, in My eyes, God’s eyes, do you think there is a big difference between the small actions of your daily duty...and what you call the great events of your life?”

Mother Teresa’s quote and the quote from Jesus Speaking remind me of something I learned while volunteering for another non-profit: the concept of “mother sized.”  When you have little ones, especially nurslings, it can be very difficult to get large chunks of time to work on projects around the house, lengthy homeschool projects if you homeschool, homework time in the evenings if your children attend school, volunteer work, and other interests.  However, if you write down the most important things you want to get done during the day - mother sized activities that are broken down into chinks of as little as 15 minutes - you will feel a sense of accomplishment being able to do those things.  Don’t feel like your list needs to have 20 items on it.  Start with just THREE.  If you are a mom of a newborn, that might be enough with “shower” as one of your three items 😊 If your nursing toddler nurses just a few times per day and is often busy playing with his older brother, maybe you can add more items to your list.  You get to decide what is right for you.

Prayer can also be one of the “small things done with great love” you most want to accomplish each day.  Nursing moms often do not have enough time to just sit down and pray a whole five decades of the rosary.  That is why CNML gives out one decade rosaries and two decade rosary bracelets.  If you would like one, just email us!

I just listened to a CatholicMom.com podcast this morning about household chores and feeling like you are doing enough or being enough.  Remember that you are more than the sum total of your activities!  You are much more than that! You are a person made in the image and likeness of God on her journey to Heaven to be with God.  There will be days when you get zero household chores done and you are glad you have clothes on other than pajamas.  However, you nursed your baby and changed her diaper and rocked her to sleep.  Maybe you also took care of a sick child and prayed a Morning offering and “Jesus I trust in You!” a few times throughout the day. Guess what?  You made Jesus happy that day!

Another fun resource for moms is the FlyLady website and book.  I have not had much success following her suggested routines, but I like her philosophy.  She recommends something similar to 15 minute mother sized activities - have one day a week of doing the more involved housework like vacuuming and then spend just 15 minutes per day on other chores that need to get done.