"The Lord measures our perfection neither by the multitude nor the magnitude of our deeds, but by the manner in which we perform them" (St. John of the Cross).

Another way of saying this is that the quantity of good deeds is not the measure God uses but the quality of love that motivates us. We can do ten good deeds out of obligation or we can do one good deed out of true love. Mary was praised by Jesus because she sat attentively at his feet absorbing in love the message of salvation. Widow who put all she had in the temple treasury. What motivated her? Love. How conscious am I in the things I am doing in the present moment? Were we motivated by love in imitation of Christ.