Service Is Its Own Reward

Service Is Its Own Reward

Born over sixty years ago in Yugoslavia, she responded
to God's call on her life while still a teenager. A
missionary's strong challenge to give her life to
teaching in India resulted in her appointment to the
city of Calcutta. Some months later she saw a sight
which completely revolutionized her life, and would
ultimately bring her worldwide fame as Good
Housekeeping magazine's "Most-Admired-Woman" selection.
What was the sight?

A homeless, dying woman lying in the gutter, being
eaten by rats. Compassion compelled her to beg an
abandoned Hindu temple from the government and convert
it into a crude make-shift hospital for the dying. A
comment of her's became her life's thrust: "If there is
a God in heaven, and a Christ we love, nobody should
die alone." This woman who established colonies for
over 10,000 lepers in 28 cities was interviewed by
Malcolm Muggeridge from the BBC News. "Mother Teresa,
the thing I noticed about you and the hundreds of
sisters who now form your team, team, is that you all
look so happy. Is that a put-on?" 

She replied, "Oh no, not at all. Nothing makes you
happier than when you really reach out in mercy to
someone who is badly hurt."

Service is its own reward. True mercy begets genuine
joy.

  Robert Schuller, "The Be-Happy Attitudes," 
  pages 135-137