Here’s What Really Matters In Life

October 5, 2015 | Posted at 7:01 pm | by Anonymous /Unknown (Follow User)

OK, so I hope I’m not the only one fangirling over Pope Francis. I mean, I love this man!
 

Even though it’s only been two weeks since the pope has graced this country, I think it’s safe to say that his visit truly left its mark on Americans – regardless of race, social class and especially, religion. And although I seriously could go on and on about the amazingness of Papa Francesco, I’m not here to talk about him.
 

Rather, I wanted to share an answer to one of life’s most common and most important questions that I feel Pope Francis answered while he was here as well as over the past years. It was a question that the Pope answered not only by his words, but more importantly, by his actions.
 

The *big* question is this: (drum roll please)…

What is it that really matters in life?


Is it money? Is it popularity? Is it happiness? Is it family? What about relationships? Or is it success? Yes, these are all important aspects of our lives. And, I’m sure that anyone can make a great argument in favor of one of these. In fact, one can even reason that all of these truly matter.
 

But, if we look to Pope Francis as an example and if we look at all the things that we praised him for, (from eating with the homeless, addressing the dignity of the human person to Congress, stopping his car to get out to bless and kiss a child with Cerebral Palsy, to visiting the inmates in a high security prison) all these actions may be different in appearance, but they come from the same root. This is love!
 

“You don’t have to be Pope to make a difference. One small act made with the greatest charity can spark the light in another’s soul.” (Photo: iStockphoto)

I truly believe that the answer to our question about what really matters in life is…love.

 
Regardless of where we come from or what religion we identify with, if you truly think about it, as humans, the times that have truly left a positive impact on us are the times in which we have experienced the most love. And this really all comes down to not only how we treat each other, but also that we all (in some way or another) do have an impact on each other. We are all connected.
 

We can have all the money and power in the world, but if we don’t help others, if we don’t love, we are missing the point of living. We are social being. We were not put on this earth alone. We were made to help one another; to give of ourselves, so that others may truly grasp the reality that they are dignified, they are worthy.
 

Think of the last time you were at your lowest. I’m sure it was an act of love that pulled you out of your dark time. Maybe it was a helping hand, a smile or even a hug. The reality is, we will all be called to different walks of life. But we will all be called to the same goal, and that is love, because love is what truly matters in life.
 

You don’t have to be Pope to make a difference.
 
One small act made with the greatest charity can spark the light in another’s soul to know that they are wanted; that they are loved. As Pope Francis says, “Love is something we learn; Love is something we live.”