Right outside of mom and dad’s front door is a beautiful tree, loaded with red berries. When it rains, the berries shine like diamonds and greet everyone that walks by.

I’ve been watching the resolutions and wishes and hopes for the New Year scroll by on Facebook and Twitter. I like to choose one word to really concentrate on next year. I’m close to deciding.

This year,more than just that word, I want to remember this quote:

“Let us always meet each other with smile, for the smile is the beginning of love.” – Mother Theresa

What is it about a smile? Do you wonder… is that why we are so drawn to young children? Their smiles are so big that their eyes shine. Is that why we are drawn to pets? When their tails wag, we feel that they are smiling at us?

I’ve been watching my parents care for my grandparents. My grandmothers are both still alive, such a blessing! My Grandma Thompson is struggling with dementia. This past week, I fluctuated between being Francis (her older sister), Mary (my mom), and Katie. As I watched my parents navigate this, there was one thing that was absolutely consistent. They always greeted her with a smile. Her words are not always easy or kind, but my parents do not waver. They just smile.

Have you heard of St. Therese de Lisieux? I was not raised Catholic, so the discovery of the saints is a beautiful journey for me. She is also known as The Little Flower and the originator of The Little Way.

I’ve been so perplexed by what The Little Way meant. It is through my parents, as they take on the role of caregivers, that I am beginning to understand.

“Miss no single opportunity of making some small sacrifice, here by a smiling look, there by a kindly word; always doing the smallest right and doing it all for love.” ― Thérèse de Lisieux

“A word or a smile is often enough to put fresh life in a despondent soul.” ― Thérèse de Lisieux

I am beginning to understand that the “Little Way” is simplicity in life, prayer from the heart to Jesus, complete trust in God as our Loving Father, seeking God’s will in our everyday activities (even the little things), doing everything for the love of Jesus, being kind to all people, and a sincere desire to be with Jesus forever rather than to be in this world.

Whew – that’s quite a list. Over the past few months, I’ve been thinking about the Little Way and trying to chose just one thing to add. I think St. Therese would approve of adding just one small thing at a time.

I will smile – not just at the lady at the grocery store or at my friend I’m meeting for coffee.

I will smile at my children when they approach me with questions. I will smile at my husband when he asks what our plans are for the weekend. I will smile when it is 3:15am, again, and a little one just won’t stay in bed. I will smile when I empty the dishwasher. I will smile when I pull the clothes out of the dryer to fold.

I will, with His strength, follow the example of my parents, Blessed Mother Theresa, and St. Therese of Lisieux and smile.