The Little Pencil

Ellen Mongan shares inspiration in our motherly vocation from Mother Teresa, as well as from the saint's own mother.

When Mother Teresa felt the call by God to be a nun, she confided in her mother. What advice did her mother give to her daughter at this tender time? “Put your hand in His (Jesus’) hand and walk alone with Him. Walk ahead, because if you look back you will go back.” She did just as her mother instructed her to do.

Mother Teresa was later to share these words with the world:

I do not think that I have any special qualities, I do not claim anything for the work. I am like a little pencil in His hands, which is all. He does the thinking. He does the writing. The pencil has nothing to do with it. The pencil has only to be allowed to be used by Him within. (Time magazine)

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Mother Teresa walked in God’s amazing grace. By putting her hand in His and walking alone with Him, she learned God’s voice. God used Mother Teresa as a mouthpiece to the world. Her life spoke volumes, in her writing, and in her speaking Mother Teresa taught the world. Her life had a purpose. She stated with confidence, “God loves me, and I am not just here to just fill a place, to just be a number, He has chosen me for a purpose. I know it.”*

Mother Teresa encourages us with these words:

You must know when you say yes to God. What is in that yes? Yes, means surrender, totally, fully, without counting the cost, without an examination. It is an all-right covenant. Our yes to God is without any reservation.

As Catholic moms, we too become that little pencil in God’s hand. He does the thinking and writing, and the pencil has nothing to do with it. God has chosen us for a purpose. What a formidable responsibility it is to be a pencil in the hand of God. Our work will be fruitful if we adopt Mother Teresa’s mom’s advice as our own. Take His hand each day and walk alone with Him.

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I will never forget the day God called me to write. We have just moved to Merritt Island, Florida. I was seeking the Lord as to what He wanted me to do to serve Him. Our conversation went about like this: “So, Lord what do you want me to do?” I am an extrovert among extroverts, so I thought God would say, lead a women’s ministry. This is the role I had played in other churches.

To my surprise, I heard one word: “Write!”

Extremely baffled, I continued my conversation with God. “No Lord, really what do you want me to do?”

Once again came the word, “Write!”

I wanted to say to my Father God, “Do you know who I am? I am a people person, an extrovert, and am not a sit-down gal. I do not even type, except the one-finger method while always looking at the keys.” Instead, I held my tongue, because I knew God knew me, and I knew Him. I knew His voice. Reluctantly, I agreed! Now after two decades I can look back on my life and say, my Heavenly Father was right. God has blessed my “Yes.” He has called me for a purpose.

As I walked into the Adoration chapel to write this article, my eye caught a book about Mother Teresa, titled Mother Teresa: Her Essential Wisdom. I was about halfway through reading the book before I caught on that God was authoring my article as I read. Is not that always the way? When a pencil is placed in God’s hand, the writing flows.

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Our work will be fruitful if we adopt Mother Teresa’s mom’s advice as our own. Take His hand each day and walk alone with Him. #CatholicMom #CatholicMom

Mother Teresa reminds us, “We are small instruments in God’s hand, who, after accomplishing our mission, will all but disappear." Don’t you feel like that sometimes in your daily walk? There are times when we are empty, weak, and helpless.

We go to Jesus with our empty jugs, and He fills them with the new wine of His Holy Spirit. Our thirst is quenched. Then we in turn pour out the choicest wine to quench the thirst of others. In word, in deed, and by our example we are filling the lives of others with treasures from God sought in prayer. Those who hear those living words, in turn, pass them on to those they meet.

The fruit of Silence is Prayer.

The fruit of Prayer is Faith.

The fruit of Faith is Love.

The fruit of Love is Service.

The fruit of Service is Peace.

(Mother Teresa had these words on small cards she gave out, which she referred to as her “business cards.”)

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