..made those who had been defeated by life feel the tenderness of God....

"Mother Teresa marked the history of our century with courage. She served all human beings by promoting their dignity and respect, and made those who had been defeated by life feel the tenderness of God.''
- Pope John Paul II

Her name was Agnes. She was born in Albania. She grew up to be Mother Teresa.

She left home at the age of 18 to join a religious order. She taught for over a decade in India, but was so distressed by the suffering outside the walls of the convent that she asked permission to serve people on the streets. Eventually she began her own order, Missionaries of Charity, in 1950.

She was given many honors, including the Nobel Peace Prize and honorary US citizenship. However, her words when visiting the United States were about others: If you do not want the babies, send them to me. I will take them.

She fought for the dignity of each and every human life. Her works, although humbly done, grew to produce much fruit. She saw Christ in all human beings, no matter how destitute, forlorn, unloved, dirty, hungry or ill. She set out to meet their basic needs and restore their dignity.

If you are feeling defeated by life, if you feel you have lost your dignity and worth as a human being, please know that God's tenderness extends to you. Know that our faith celebrates each and every life and human being as part of a greater Whole-and that, with unity, all of us grow toward being more Christ-like. We cannot do this alone - we must do this in community.

So I ask that you share my hope that God's tenderness is shown daily on earth by others like Mother Teresa. Every act we do for another, no matter how simple, spreads joy. Our choice to be an agent of God's work, each and every day, is our highest calling.

I do not mean these words in the sense that those of us with disabilities are mere recipients - for we, too, must and can serve others as God provides us with opportunities. I truly believe that all of us can serve each other. If you are reading this blog and your body has physical limitations, I challenge you to find ways to serve others.

Appearances can be deceiving. We may judge someone as helpless and unable to do anything. We may judge ourselves that way on our worst days or when we first face our disability.

But God does not see the person that way. God does not see us that way.

Mother Teresa gave people bread to eat - and dignity. She gave them clean clothes - and love. Her message was clear: no one is a throwaway.

Defeated in life? Or wrapped in God's special tenderness?

It is up to us to choose our way.