School days are upon us…

This week on my Facebook feed I have seen photo after photo of children going off to school with backpacks, bright smiles, and the excitement that comes at the beginning of the school year. Behind the camera I’m sure there were several anxious, frazzled parents reworking schedules to get their kids to leave on time, and harboring unspoken fears that something was missed and high hopes for the success of the school year to come.

As a parent to a teenager, I am no stranger to these back-to-school anxieties; this year, though I am also slowly getting over a cold and dealing with the effects of seasonal allergies. And in the midst of all this, I found myself growing overwhelmed by the thought of writing this post for Ellen’s Picks – an opportunity to connect and share my life, my ministry, and my work of supporting Catholic media evangelization at Salt and Light Catholic Media Foundation. My first reaction was to retract, not open up or put myself out there…in part thanks to my frazzled physical state but also due to my fear of not finding the right thoughts to share – the grand and significant thoughts that I was convinced I should have to share…

While this was happening, Mother Teresa’s name kept coming up in my world….her feast day was September 5th, so all across my newsfeeds I was seeing reminders and tributes. Saint Teresa of Calcutta, canonized a Saint in 2016, was the founder of the Catholic Religious Order of the Missionaries of Charity and dedicated her life to helping the poor. Though she was diminutive in size, her driven personality and ability to see God at work in each and every life has put her on the list of one of the 20th century’s greatest humanitarians. Years ago when I worked in Catholic Church administration, I (very excitedly) stumbled across a hand written letter from her (which I quickly put into a file folder and delivered to Archives for preservation) where this spirit was clearly shown.

As I have read about and resonated with the work of Mother Teresa, I have, over time, come across many significant quotes associated with her but the one in my head that keeps repeating recently is, “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” And as I sat in my office, cold, allergies, school stress and all, I immediately thought of those parents and caregivers on my Facebook feed doing just that. They shopped, fixed, sorted, packed, and prepared. They picked out clothes, organized backpacks, and sorted out snacks. They tied shoelaces, dished out encouragement, and made sure necessary technology was all in order. A series of mundane tasks that are seemingly unappreciated but necessary for a smooth transition.

So to all you moms, dads, grandparents, babysitters, foster parents, and caregivers of any kind – be encouraged. In a season that may seem hectic, filled with new beginnings, new routines, and new challenges, remember that sometimes it’s the little moments that matter most. Maybe you can’t do everything, but you can show your great love in little things – whether they are small surprises, or reliable routines. Don’t discount your love in the little things. Just love.

Mother Teresa’s wisdom active in our everyday life.

Saint Teresa of Calcutta, pray for us.

Kristen Carey is the Associate Director of Development and Donor Relations for Salt and Light Catholic Media Foundation. She recently joined Salt + Light after working over 25 years for the Archdiocese of Toronto, the Roman Catholic head office in Toronto. Her experience supporting her faith community spans the areas of administration, public relations/communications, fundraising/development, event planning and international program funding.

Kristen has a degree in Interior Design and a certificate in Public Relations, both from Ryerson University. The skills gained from them fuel her creative and organized nature and inspires her passion for hands-on renovating.

Being a mother to her son Jackson is of great importance to her as well as her friendships, both new and old, which provide valuable support and laughter to deal with life’s ups and downs.

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