Once, when I used to work as a reporter, I wrote a Valentine’s Day edition article on people’s attitudes and experiences of love. I interviewed a variety of celebrities and, interestingly, many of them agreed with each other unknowingly that most of their unforgettable moments came not from major events or important days, but from the small things that happened in their daily lives.
Just like the personalities I talked to, I’ve found that many touching moments in my life have come from the course of everyday life. Love and meaning can be found in even the most seemingly mundane things. The care of family members, the company and prayers of friends are not insignificant things because, at least to me, they allow me to feel the warmth of love.
I’ve also learned that love can pop up unexpectedly, in ways that I cannot forget. When I was in high school I lost some magazines that were precious to me. When I called my best friend to tell her she abruptly hung up on me. It wasn’t until the next day that I realized why she didn’t seem to care: After our brief conversation she went out alone to try to find what I had lost. Looking back, the magazines are no longer important. But today I cannot forget the effort my friend put out for me.
Another time, at a bus stop, I met a petite young mother with her newborn. After some small talk she told me she was on her way to the beach so that her baby would have a break from the pollution in the city. The mother looked frail to me and encumbered by the big stroller she had to push, but she was willing to take the long bus ride out so her baby could get a few breaths of fresh air. It was a beautiful picture of love to me.
Heidi Baker, an American missionary based in Africa, lives by a great adage: “Stop for the one.” Amid her busy schedule, Baker endeavors to wholeheartedly follow the example of Jesus by stopping to show love to every child she meets, to remind them that someone cares for them.
Love starts from the smallest acts. A smile, a caring word or nod of the head can ignite the spark. As Mother Theresa used to tell her helpers, “Don’t look for big things; just do small things with great love . . . The smaller the thing, the greater must be our love.” We might not all be able to do momentous earth-shattering feats but all of us, in our own ways, can certainly do something with love and a genuine heart for others.
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English Translation by Haymen Leong
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Originally posted on the Amira Culture website
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My other articles on Amira Culture:
大自然的奧妙和啟示 The Wonder and Lessons of Nature
活出最美好的一年 Make It Your Best Year
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