Image by TheAlieness GiselaGiardino²³ via Flickr

Mother Teresa was born in Macedonia in 1910 under the birth name Agnes Bojaxhiu.  I don’t know much about her younger years, but it would appear by the age of 18 she was ready to spread the word of Christ.  I admittedly don’t know much about the word of Christ either, but according to my Grandmother she made one of the best life decisions one could make by doing so.  she joined the Sisters Of Loreto, a group of nuns in Ireland that did a great deal of missionary work in India.

Her first assignment was in Calcutta as a teacher at St. Marys high school.  It was while she was teaching that the poverty and grief these people went through on a daily basis took a toll on her and she decided to do more to help fight the fight.  Mother Teresa requested permission to leave the covenant and spend her days working with the poor and needy in Calcutta.  Still feeling like she had to do more, she started “The Missionaries of Charity”  This group was dedicated to loving and serving those who need to be loved and helped.

I didn’t know much about Mother Teresa growing up, but what I do remember is in 1997, I saw my Grandma cry one of the few times I ever witnessed her cry, when I inquired to the reason, she informed me that Mother Teresa had died.  This moved me, this lady I had barely ever heard of was thought of so highly by Grandma that tears were the only way to try and heal the pain.  I decided if her work was so important to my Grandma, that I should figure out what it was exactly she did, and then I could do the same and my Grandma wouldn’t have to be sad anymore.

I was brought up in a fairly religious household.  We went to church on Sundays, and I went to bible school, and even enjoyed church plays around Christmas and  holiday bible stories.  But for some reason I never felt comfortable in church.  I felt like there was too much judgment going on, and not enough love for fellow humans. So I gave it up, and got on with my life.