Christian Living

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A Loving Lesson
© 2006

by

Stephen A. Peterson


As a young, unknown nun, Teresa of Calcutta met with a young wealthy woman who asked her to teach her about life, service to the poor and compassion.

“Certainly,” said Teresa. “Come follow me.”

All day this woman of wealth and means followed Teresa about Calcutta waiting eagerly for her to speak. They entered a house to find a young girl feeding her very sick grandfather. Teresa checked the man’s eyes, took his temperature and determined his illness to be related to continuous ingestation of contaminated water. She instructed the girl to first boil the water before she and her grandfather consumed it and to wash her hand before eating. With a smile and a statement of gratitude from the girl, Teresa made her way back into the streets of Calcutta.

The two women trekked before they came to a busy marketplace. Once there, Teresa gave a hungry man food meant for her. From there they went into a slum area where Teresa helped an elderly woman lift a bucket of water from a public well. Without a word, she carried the bucket of water for the woman to her home.

Each time they stopped, the wealthy woman was sure Teresa would speak to her about life, service to the poor and compassion—but no words or wise discourse came from the nun’s lips. Finally, they went into a small church looking facility where only Teresa knelt silently to pray for a little over an hour.

As the sun was about to set, they returned to the place from where the two women had begun their day’s activities. By now the wealthy woman was thoroughly confused, tried and very hungry.

“Sister Teresa, aren’t you going to teach me about life, service to humanity and compassion. I’ve been waiting and following you all day for you to teach me something about these things. So far you’ve said nothing. I’m sorry but I don’t get it. Are you planning to discuss these issues tomorrow?”

Teresa simply smiled, “I’ve spent all day telling you what you wanted to know about life, service to the poor and compassion!!!”

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