The Little Way

I have always been drawn to St. Therese of Lisieux. I am a convert, and a friend told me I could talk to the saints. So I talked to Therese. I asked my friend one day “how do I know if she hears me?” She said, “Ask Her for a sign that she hears you.” I thought sure it is February and there are Valentine’s Day roses everywhere. How would I know if any of these roses were a sign meant for me? But I asked anyway. Later that day, a friend I had not heard from in years, sent me an e-mail, out of the blue, with the St. Therese prayer. I was stunned, but I had my answer, so I kept talking to the Little Flower.

St. Therese was born Thursday January 2, 1873. Therese was blond, blue-eyed, very attractive, precocious, lively, very touchy, capable of violent outbursts of temper, and stubborn. So ordinary, so relatable. When Therese was four years old, her mother died of breast cancer. Therese’s happy disposition completely changed after her mother’s death. Once full of life, she became timid and excessively sensitive.

St. Therese said, “I am a very little Soul and I can offer God only very little things.” I believe—I too am just a little Soul. Her autobiography, “Story of A Soul,” is about living the “little way.” A way of trust and absolute surrender. Her idea was to do everything in life, especially the little things, out of love for God and for our neighbors. We should not expect a reward or even recognition. Doing daily errands can be as holy as doing missionary work if our desire is to serve God as best we can.

St. Therese said a member of her community had a way of annoying her by everything she did. She said, “the devil must have had a finger in this, by making me see only her unpleasant side.”  Therese did for this nun what she would do for a person most dear to her. I know challenging people like this too but try to follow St. Therese’s example and think about why the person acts like that and instead treat them as God would have me do. St. Thérèse knew very well that no one is too little or no task is insignificant in God's eyes if it is done out of love for him in accordance with his will. “A word, a kindly smile, will often suffice to gladden a wounded and sorrowful heart.” I’ve found I can do little things, like St. Therese. Saying “Hello” can make someone smile. You don’t have to be “great.” We all can do “little” things out of love for God.  Therese taught us that Jesus is everywhere and is the power for love and goodness operating within us. 

Therese did not see herself as a brilliant rose or an elegant lily, but a small wildflower—one unnoticed by the greater population yet growing and giving glory to God. Therese saw the world as God’s garden, and each person being a different kind of flower. About prayer, Therese says, “I do not have the courage to force myself to search out beautiful prayers in books. There are so many of them it really gives me a headache! And each prayer is more beautiful than the others.  I say very simply to God what I wish to say, without composing beautiful sentences, and He always understands me.” This simplicity is one of the things that draw people to St. Therese. Like Therese, I too say to God what I wish to say, and he understands me.

I was drawn to St. Therese because of her young age, short life, and incredible suffering.  She was so human. Therese once said “What would become of me if God did not give me courage.  If I had no faith, I would have inflicted death on myself without hesitating a moment.” God has also given me the courage to face life’s difficulties head on. Therese had a long struggle with tuberculosis. She experienced much coughing, difficulties in breathing, pains in her chest and swollen limbs. She said she felt as though she was stretched out on “iron spikes.” Despite all of this suffering, Sister Marie said of Therese, “As far as her morale is concerned, it is always the same, cheerfulness itself. I believe she will die laughing, she is so happy.” Therese felt she was not dying but entering into life. She said she was happy to die because she would be much more useful. “I want to spend my heaven in doing good on earth. I will let fall a shower of roses.”  I too hope that I can do good on earth after entering my eternal life. St. Therese died September 30, 1897 at 7:20 P.M. She was gazing at her crucifix and said “Oh! I love Him!” a moment later she said, “My God, I love you!” Then she closed her eyes and died at age 24. 

St. Therese set a good example how us “ordinary” people can live extraordinary lives for God.

Elizabeth Teuteberg