Many years ago, some Western tourists were visiting Mother Teresa in Calcutta. They asked her, “How can we be part of your mission?” Mother Teresa responded, “If you want to change the world, go home and care for your family.”
The greatest acts of love we are called to are not always found in distant places or grand gestures, they begin with those closest to us. This is not easy. True love, especially within family life, demands everything from us.
When we have babies, we are called to give up our own time and priorities, to cook, to clean, to change nappies. This call to love is not just for women. Fathers are also called to care deeply. Men must step into roles they may not have been raised to expect. Why? Because deep love transforms us. In a world driven by pressure and performance, love requires us to pause and change.
Women are called to work. Men are called to serve in ways that stretch them beyond comfort. Think of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet, a powerful image of humble love. How are we spending quality time with those we love? Did Joseph do these things for Mary in first-century Palestine? No. But he didn’t live in our time. In today’s rapidly changing world, flexibility and presence are essential in facing the pressures we all carry.
We are called to change, to care for loved ones we may not have known how to care for before. Jesus takes love even further: “Love your enemies.” In today’s language, that means caring for those who get on our nerves, who challenge us, or who are hard to accept. Love goes beyond expectations so that God’s grace can break through.
When our children become teenagers, or even if you don’t have children but are an uncle, aunt, teacher, or mentor, our role must grow too. We’re no longer simply changing nappies. We need to grow in love as our children grow. Teenagers need emotional support, guidance, role models, someone to laugh with and teach them joy. Uncles and aunties, please step in more often! Play games, show up. At this stage, children need more than parents. It truly does take a village to raise a child.
Teenagers need to know they are loved, especially when they fall down. The greatest gift we can offer is our presence, not our absence. Even when they say, “I don’t need you,” they do.
As our children become young adults, our role shifts again. Whether we are parents, uncles, aunties, or mentors, we must encourage them to leave the nest. Young people need to learn how to be adults, to make their own decisions, to stand on their own feet. “To find themselves, they must first lose themselves.” They need space to go on the journeys that shape their lives. This doesn't mean we abandon them, it means we support them while letting them grow.
And finally, as our own parents enter their 70s, 80s, or 90s, perhaps facing dementia, frailty, or other limitations, we may no longer be able to care for them full-time. Nurses may need to lift them or change their clothes. But we can still offer what they need most: our love, our time, our presence. We can visit, smile, sit with them, and pray beside them. When they no longer remember the words of their prayers, we are called to be their voice.
Thank you for loving. Because the world changes, one small act of love at a time.
Journal and reflect on the following questions
In what ways am I actively showing love to the people closest to me each day?
How willing am I to serve others in ways that stretch me beyond my comfort or expectations?
Do I see parenting and family life as a holy calling, even in the ordinary and messy moments?
How do I respond when love requires sacrifice, patience, or humility?
What does it mean for me to be truly present to my children, partner, or aging parents?
Have I invited extended family, like uncles, aunties, or grandparents, into the life of my children?
Where might God be calling me to grow in love, especially toward those who challenge me the most?Discuss with your family and community.
Please listen to the Song - Slow Down
Final Prayer
Loving God, you have placed us in families and communities where love begins not with grand gestures, but in small acts of care, patience, and presence. Teach us to serve one another with humility, as Jesus did when He washed the feet of His friends. Help us to cherish the sacredness of family life, in the sleepless nights with infants, the laughter and listening with teenagers, the letting go of young adults, and the gentle presence beside our aging parents. May we reflect your love not only in our words, but in the daily choices to show up, to forgive, to support, and to be present. Give us the grace to love well, especially when it is hard, so that through us, your compassion may be known in our homes and beyond. Amen.
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