I want to share a story with you. This story was recorded by Mother Teresa in her book "In the Heart of the World".

Some of my sisters work in Australia. On a reservation, among the Aborigines, there was an elderly man. I can assure you that you have never seen a situation as difficult as that poor old man's. He was completely ignored by everyone. His home was disordered and dirty.

I told him, "Please, let me clean your house, wash your clothes, and make your bed." He answered, "I'm okay like this. Let it be."

I said again, "You will be still better if you allow me to do it."

He finally agreed. So I was able to clean his house and wash his clothes. I discovered a beautiful lamp, covered with dust. Only God knows how many years had passed since he last lit it.

I said to him, "Don't you light your lamp? Don't you ever use it?"

He answered, "No. No one comes to see me. I have no need to light it. Who would I light it for?"

I asked, "Would you light it every night if the sisters came?"

He replied, "Of course."

From that day on the sisters committed themselves to visiting him every evening. We cleaned the lamp, and the sisters would light it every evening.

Two years passed. I had completely forgotten that man. He sent this message: "Tell my friend that the light she lit in my life continues to shine still."

I thought it was a very small thing. We often neglect small things.

The story is titled "Remember the Small Things", but there is a much greater lesson to be learned. As I first heard this story, I was pierced with the significance of the message sent by the man. "Tell my friend that the light she lit in my life continues to shine still." I get emotional thinking about that line, reading it again and again. What an incredible impact she made on that man's life! What a testimony!

Have I lit a light in anyone's life that is still shining? Have I made such an impact?

As I close out my time here in Namibia (now 37 days), I pray with earnest that someone here--hopefully more than one someone--can send that same message to me in two, five, ten years time...

"Tell my friend Hannah that the light she lit in my life continues to shine still."

Oh, Father. That is my prayer. Let my light shine into the lives of others. And may you receive ALL the glory!

"Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:16