Amma

It was a typical day in the small community in India. “Amma,” a middle-aged woman from Ireland, was spending her day the way she spent all others: teaching young girls, caring for babies, training new helpers, and carrying out the innumberable other duties taht come with having a “family” with well over fifty members. Plainly dressed in a white sari, the Irish woman had chosen to dress as the poor of the poor did, refusing to pay more for a brighter color. Amma’s real name was Amy Carmichael.

As Elisabeth Elliot, herself a missionary as well as one of Amy Carmichael’s many biographers, said of Amy, “The preoccupations of seventeen-year-old girls - their looks, their clothes, their social life - do not change very much from generation to generation. But in every generation there seem to be a few who make other choices. Amy was one of the few” (Elisabeth Elliot, A Chance to Die: The Life and Legacy of Amy Carmichael). That attitude stayed with Amy throughout her life. Never concerned about the opinions of others, Amy simply didn’t bother herself with others’ judgments of her. Her concern was the will of God and how He wanted her to serve and glorify Him.

As is true of all undertakings that gain world-wide attention, Amy Carmichael’s work in India attracted many hopeful helpers - some valuable, others only adventure-seekers. Unfortunately, numerous newcomers found themselves disillusioned with the countless menial tasks required of them - they felt that such work was beneath them. Leading by example, Amy showed those around her what it means to do everything - even cleaning and caring for messy, crying babies - as working for the Lord. In her devotional book If, Amy observed, “If by doing some work which the undiscerning consider 'not spiritual work' I can best help others, and I inwardly rebel, thinking it is the spiritual for which I crave, when in truth it is the interesting and exciting, then I know nothing of Calvary love.” Willingly, Amy labored at whatever work God brought her way.

Amy spent her life selflessly laboring to bring other people to a relationship with Jesus Christ. Even if her clothes were lowly, even if her work was often menial in our view, in God’s eyes, her life was a beautiful act of devotion to Him. “How lovely...are the feet of him who brings good news...who announces salvation” (Is. 52:7). Amy Carmichael did not pursue attention or worldly beauty. By living a life obedient to the will of God and solely for His glory, Amy became a glowing illustration of true beauty - of what God performs with a heart wholly committed to Him.