“We may not be rich in money, but we’re rich in love – and that’s far more important!” I remember my mother saying this from time to time as I was growing up. Interestingly enough, I don’t remember the context around her statement. But it is true that we didn’t have much money. And looking back, I’m sure there were times when my parents worried about making ends meet and providing for all of their children. It’s also true that we were rich in love. Sure, we had our disagreements and fights like any family, but I don’t think any of us ever really doubted our love for each other.

Maybe my mother made this statement when one of my siblings or I asked for something (more than once!) that my parents simply couldn’t afford and she wanted to give us some perspective. Or perhaps when times were particularly tough, she needed to remind herself that regardless of how little she had, love abounded. In any event, her words have stayed with me.

I can claim my mom’s sentiment as my own. When it comes to love, I am rich beyond measure. I have a family who loves and accepts me as I am and friends who have stuck by me through thick and thin. And although my husband and I are certainly in a much better financial position than my parents ever were, we’re far from rich. Having said this, I fully realize that it’s all relative. We are definitely very wealthy as compared to many in this country and around the world, and our lifestyle could justifiably be considered opulent by those living in poverty. Still, our budget does have constraints, and we need to be careful with our spending and very thoughtful about how we invest the resources God has entrusted to us. 

We have found ways to make additional contributions to the organizations and causes we support in light of the new challenges they’re facing due to COVID-19. But as I’ve made each donation, I have desperately longed to add two or three more zeroes and move the decimal point to the right of them. The reality, however, is that I can’t, which has left me feeling helpless and saddened that I’m not able to have a greater impact to alleviate the suffering that so many are experiencing. And to be honest, despite all that my husband and I have, I’ve found myself envying the affluence some people enjoy, wishing that our bank account was overflowing and our budget seemingly unlimited.

I feel heartbroken when I stop to think that for some people around the world (including the community of Rakai, Uganda), hunger is becoming a greater threat than the Coronavirus itself. I feel heartbroken when I consider that organizations already struggling to meet the needs of the homeless are now stretched even further. I feel heartbroken for people who are worried sick about how they will pay their rent, feed their kids, and meet all of their obligations in the wake of losing a job and a regular paycheck.

But in the midst of feeling overwhelmed by all the suffering in the world, I thought of something else my mother used to say: “Always do the very best you can and remember that you can’t do more than that.” As it turned out, this advice was far more valuable than I had anticipated. There have been numerous disappointments in my life, but for the most part I’ve honestly been able to say, “At least I gave it my best shot.” And that thought alone has been comforting.

Sometimes I’m tempted to close my eyes to the suffering around me because it’s just so hard to watch. But Jesus doesn’t give us that option. Jesus actually calls us to enter into the other’s suffering, to bear one another’s burdens, to show compassion for our neighbor. This can be very hard at times. But I breathe a little easier when I remember that Jesus doesn’t expect us to perform miracles; he calls us to love and care for others, the very best we can.

You may be having the same feelings of helplessness that I’ve experienced. I think most of us feel this way from time to time. So I invite you to join me in extending ourselves a little more grace, taking joy in the many gifts God has given us, and trusting that God will bless our efforts, however small they might seem. Mother Teresa said, “If you cannot feed a hundred people, feed one.” If each of us focused on what we can do, just imagine what might happen! After all, we may have limitations, but there is no limit to what God can do!

Generous God: Through the gift of your Son, Jesus, you have made us rich in love. Help us to respond to your bountiful goodness by living generous lives and doing all that we can each day to love and serve our neighbors in need. Amen.