The Fruit of Love

Topic: Serving Others

The fruit of love is service, which is compassion in action.

Mother Teresa

Mother Teresa (1910-1997), born in the city of Skopje, dedicated her life to serving others, particularly those society often overlooked—the impoverished, the sick, and the destitute. Despite her worldwide recognition for such selfless endeavors, she faced her share of challenges and struggles. Yet, Mother Teresa's deep faith and sense of purpose fortified her commitment to service, embodying her belief that "In this life we cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love."

Alongside her remarkable strengths—compassion, dedication, resilience—Mother Teresa was as human as any of us. Her journey was not without difficulties; indeed, she experienced lingering feelings of loneliness and isolation. There were times when she questioned her mission, grappling with the stark realities of life and poverty that she witnessed daily. Yet, she remained true to her calling, undeterred by the harshness of the circumstances or the enormity of the task at hand. Her life reminded us that even amid struggle and obscurity, one could find a profound sense of purpose through service. She emphasized, "If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other."

In the face of adversity, Mother Teresa saw an opportunity to engage with life deeply, transforming her hardships into lessons of hope and love. She was a living testament to her conviction that "The fruit of love is service, which is compassion in action." Regardless of the struggles she faced internally, externally, she personified love in action – extending kindness, care, and comfort to those who needed it the most. Her legacy isn't just about the numerous deeds she performed; it’s about the immense love and compassion she put into every act, however small. Through the power of love and service, Mother Teresa left a legacy that continues to inspire generations across the world.

(1910-1997) Christianity

Teresa, Mother. A Simple Path. Introduction to Mother Teresa. Edited by Lucinda Vardey, Random House Large Print in Association with Ballantine Books, 1995.

Mother Teresa

Theme: Serving

About This Mother Teresa Quotation [Commentary]

“The fruit of love is service, which is compassion in action”—this quote from Mother Teresa encapsulates a profound spiritual understanding that transcends religious boundaries and speaks to the essential nature of human virtue. It suggests that love, in its deepest and most genuine form, naturally leads to acts of service. This service is not merely a duty or a role one plays, but is a manifestation of compassion—an empathetic response to suffering that drives one to alleviate it. In essence, Mother Teresa reminds us that service to others is not a detached act, but rather an active expression of our unified humanity.

This philosophy suggests that love is more than just an emotion, it’s a catalyst for transformative actions—the fuel that propels us to step beyond ourselves and our own needs, to reach out to those who need our help. When we serve others selflessly, we are not just helping them materially; we’re also acknowledging their suffering, offering them solace, and reinforcing their dignity. As Mother Teresa rightly points out, service born from love embodies compassion in its truest sense, as it involves understanding and sharing in the suffering of others.

Finally, Mother Teresa’s words hint at a deep interconnectivity between individuals and the world around them. She emphasizes the role of prayer in cultivating a clean heart, thereby preparing the soul for acts of love and service. Her spiritual teachings suggest that deep within our beings is an intrinsic capacity for kindness and empathy. They drive home the idea that each act of love, every instance of service, and all manifestations of compassion serve to strengthen these inner virtues. Thus, her quote serves as a timeless reminder of the power of love, the nobility of service, and the beauty of compassion in action.

Mother Teresa

Mother Teresa dedicated herself wholeheartedly, freely and unconditionally to the service of the poor. She bequeathed her highly disciplined upholding of the vows of poverty, purity and obedience upon her organization, which has both grown and strengthened even since her passing.

—Stephen R. Covey [The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness] p.69.

Additional Mother Teresa Quotes

“The fruit of silence is prayer. The fruit of prayer is faith. The fruit of faith is love. The fruit of love is Service. The fruit of service is peace.”

—Mother Teresa. A Simple Path, Introduction to Mother Teresa. Edited by Lucinda Vardey, Random House Large Print in Association with Ballantine Books, 1995.

“People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.
What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.
Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.
In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.”

—”Do It Anyway,” attributed to Mother Teresa.*

The verses above reportedly were written on the wall of Mother Teresa’s home for children in Calcutta, India, and are widely attributed to her. Some sources say that the words above were written on the wall in Mother Teresa’s room. In any case, their association with Mother Teresa and the Missionaries of Charity has made them popular worldwide, expressing as they do, the spirit in which they lived their lives. They seem to be based on a composition originally by Kent Keith, but much of the second half has been rewritten more spiritually. The version above is credited to Mother Teresa. [Prayer Foundation website.]

Resources

Prayer Foundation website

The Fruit of Love

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