“If you want a love message to be heard, it has got to be sent out. To keep a lamp burning, we have to keep putting oil in it.”
- August 26, 1910 – September 5, 1997
- Albanian
- Catholic nun and saint
- Founded the Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta, India, and won the Nobel Peace Prize for her work in supporting the poor, sick, and orphans
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Quote
“If you want a love message to be heard, it has got to be sent out. To keep a lamp burning, we have to keep putting oil in it.”
Explanation
Mother Teresa’s quote emphasizes the idea that love is not a passive feeling but an active force that requires constant effort to sustain and share. Just as a lamp needs oil to keep burning, love must be nurtured and expressed consistently. If we want our love to reach others and have an impact, we must continually give it, share it, and make an effort to communicate it. This suggests that love, in its purest form, is not only something we feel but something we do, and it requires our ongoing attention and care.
This aligns with Mother Teresa’s life work, where she actively served the poorest, the sick, and the abandoned. She understood that to continue her mission of love and compassion, she had to refuel her own spirit through prayer, faith, and a deep commitment to serving others. Her love for God and humanity was the oil that kept the flame of her work burning brightly, even in the face of immense challenges and exhaustion.
In today’s world, this message encourages us to view love as a commitment that requires continuous effort. It is not enough to feel love; we must express it through actions and intentions. For example, showing kindness to others, supporting those in need, or simply reaching out to someone who feels lonely are ways of putting oil in the lamp of love. By keeping love alive through our actions, we can keep the light of compassion shining in the world around us.
