The anniversary of the passing of a tremendous woman.......

Today marks 16 years since Mother Teresa died.  It hardly seems that long ago to me.  I remember that week, because Princess Diana lost her life just days before in that horrific accident.  I was a huge fan of hers (actually, still am of her sons) -- and then the news that Mother Teresa had died struck.  It was an interesting week, to say the least.

She was a magnificent person.  Although I am sure I would have never had the chance to meet her, I wish I would have.  One always wonders when you hear such marvelous things about someone you have never met -- are they REALLY like that?  Did she really not have even one eensy weensy mean bone in her body?  From all accounts, the answer to that is no!

A few weeks ago, someone shared with me this story of Dr. Lombardi, who took care of Mother Teresa at a point in her life when she was critically ill (not immedicately prior to her death, at least in this story).  If you haven't heard it, please take a listen:  Mission to India.  It's a great story of how someone's life can be changed by just a phone call.

I remember thinking when Mother Teresa died how interesting it was that her and Princess Diana died so close together.  They were hardly the best of friends, but they did have some great photo opportunities together, and did some work together.  I am hopeful that they were able to encourage each other.

Thinking back to Mother Teresa makes me think of some of her famous quotes.  If you know me, you know that I love her quotes.  One of my favorites has always been:

"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."

I found a compilation of several of her best known quotes.  What is your favorite?

 "A life not lived for others is not a life."

"Each one of them is Jesus in disguise."

"God doesn't require us to succeed; He only requires that you try."

"I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples."

"I am not sure exactly what heaven will be like, but I know that when we die and it comes time for God to judge us, he will not ask, 'How many good things have you done in your life?' rather he will ask, 'How much love did you put into what you did?'"

"I can do things you cannot, you can do things I cannot; together we can do great things."

"I know God won't give me anything I can't handle. I just wish He didn't trust me so much."

"If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.

"If we pray, we will believe; If we believe, we will love; If we love, we will serve."

"If you are humble nothing will touch you, neither praise nor disgrace, because you know what you are."

"If you judge people, you have no time to love them."

"I'm a little pencil in the hand of a writing God, who is sending a love letter to the world."

"Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless."

"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."

"Live simply so others may simply live."

"Peace begins with a smile."

"The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway."

"What can you do to promote world peace? Go home and love your family."

"When you don't have anything, then you have everything."

"Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin."

"Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody, I think that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than the person who has nothing to eat."

"Do not think that love in order to be genuine has to be extraordinary. What we need is to love without getting tired. Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies."

"I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love."

"If you can't feed a hundred people, then just feed one."

"It is a kingly act to assist the fallen."

"Joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls. A joyful heart is the inevitable result of a heart burning with love."

"Love is a fruit in season at all times, and within reach of every hand."

"One of the greatest diseases is to be nobody to anybody."

"We cannot do great things on this Earth, only small things with great love."

Please share your favorites with me.

May she rest in peace.