St. Therese of Lisieux is a popular saint because she is relatable. She believed in the power of “the little way”. In her everyday life, she believed that she would honor God in doing the small things. From making her bed to folding napkins, St. Therese would offer these small actions for others. She didn’t create a religious order. She didn’t save an entire town from burning. She didn’t have a big conversion story.

No. She loved God day in and day out. She served him in her cloistered convent in her daily duties. Due to her "Little Way" (her lifestyle of everyday service and devotion), she has been honored as a doctor of the Church. There are only four female doctors of the Church, and St. Therese has been named one of them! This is a big deal.

So how can we be more like St. Therese? Let’s embrace our own “little way”, our little way to holiness. We can do small things every day for God. Live St. Therese’s motto: “Do all that you do with love.” Hold the door open for the person behind you, smile at the elderly woman at the back of church, pray for the homeless person you see as you drive past them, and help your siblings with their homework. In every person you interact with, imagine that you are interacting with Jesus. He is there among us, in every face.

May we do all that we can with love.

Dear God, May I embrace St. Therese’s “little way” of holiness as I go about my day. May I embrace the opportunities to serve You through small actions of love. May I live with a heart of compassion. I love You! Amen.