What if each of us positively impacted at least one person a day?
manuelita otero
My friend wanted to spend some time and befriend children who live in shelters. This shelter had a program where you are paired with a child, so when she signed up she was expecting to be paired with a younger child, to take to the park, to the movies, to the zoo and do all those things you do with little ones. Instead she was paired with an 18 year old young woman. My friend was surprised and as she says honestly a little disappointed, but after years of friendship with this young woman she has grown close to her, her sisters and their children. Lives are being changed because she made the time to care for others.
We’re all very busy, we have so many responsibilities and jobs to fulfill that sometimes it’s tough to find the balance we need and want. In the rush and busyness we may lose opportunities to make a difference, to grow, to change, to invest in what has immeasurable value. You don’t want to wake up one day and realize that you have all these things and accomplishments but didn’t make a positive difference in someone’s life because you were simply too busy. “… Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.” 2 Corinthians 9:6
The Foundation I’m working for has this great program in which children from the inner city play tennis with police officers and volunteers to reduce barriers in the community and to keep children off the streets. We usually go as a family and have so much fun. We think we go to give, but in reality we receive much more. I don’t think we could ever imagine the difference two hours of tennis are making in the children who attend, in my children, and of course in me. “A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.” Proverbs 11:25 We find joy in the giving and it starts when we make ourselves available to be part of someone’s life.
Many times we see a situation and complain about it or “feel bad.” What if we went one step further and were willing to be a part of the solution? What if each of us would positively impact at least one person a day? And what if that person impacted one more and we just kept going and going, wouldn’t that make our world a little better? We can get started right now by making ourselves available and by opening our eyes towards the needs of others. Whose life will you change today?
Manuelita