It's almost as though we feel that if we can't do something “BIG” that it isn't worth doing – or that it won't do any good.
If we're not a glamorous celebrity we aren't anything at all.
If we're “just a mom” or “just a dad” we aren't doing anything useful. We're wasting away our potential.
Somehow it's more acceptable to leave our children with others so we can take care of someone else's children than it is to simply take care of our own children in the first place.
To put our children in school and daycare so we can be a teacher is a good thing – home schooling is “weird” and wrong and a waste of our potential.
To put our children in daycare to go be a preschool teacher is a good thing – to stay home with your toddler is a waste of time.
Strangers can do the job better than we can.
Just one vote doesn't matter. My vote doesn't matter – unless it's for the “correct” candidate. One phone call to a senator doesn't matter. One letter doesn't matter.
One. Alone. Useless. Small. Insignificant.
LIES!
One hour of rest in the middle of a busy day is a God-send. One friend during a lonely time is a blessing. One smile. One hug. One good word. One hour of play. One person. One family. One home. One friend. One who understands. One act of kindness. One act of service. One hand to hold.
All precious. All powerful. All together – immense.
I am one person. I have one family – one husband, one daughter, one dog, two cats. I have one heart and many friends. One testimony. One name. One sacred honor. One life. One relationship with the Almighty – the Grand Creator – the Great God of the Universe – my Father.
I am a catalyst. I can give one smile – one hug – one good word – one hour of play – one kind act – one act of service – one moment of understanding – and set off a chain of events for good that will never end. I can start a ripple on the pond of a life – which will then start other ripples.
Do we really understand how truly powerful we are?
Some powerful things people have done for me – small things said – sometimes by a person I have only met once – and who I will thank throughout the eternities:
“I have just lost all respect I ever had for you.”
“I don't need a comfort zone. I can move freely from room to room in my father's house 'cause He's 'got my back'.”
“Stand in holy places – even if those places are only as big as the soles of your feet.”
“America has just sold her birthright for a mess of pottage.”
“Maturity comes from sustained righteousness over an extended period of time.”
“I love you.”
Because someone said “I do not need a comfort zone”, I no longer need one. I truly can move freely from room to room in my Father's house. I am free to explore new friendships. I am free to try new things. I am free to trust the man who would become my husband. I am free to love my daughter. I am free to tell others what I have learned because one person – who I met only once – said what she did.
Because one person in my sophomore year of high school said, “I just lost all respect I ever had for you” I have lived my life since then so that I will never have to hear those words again. Thank you for the courage you displayed by saying those words to me!
If every individual would say “I love you” to those they love – how much would this world change?
If every individual made a choice – a real choice... one backed by action – to be honest, how much would this world change?
If every individual chose to make what happens within the walls of their home the most important thing in their world – how much would this world change?
If every individual chose to call their representatives in Washington, DC to say when they were doing a good job, or a bad job, or “don't vote for that bill!” or “please do vote for that bill!”, how much would this world change?
If every individual knew the constitution as well as they knew their favorite novel, or television show, or website, or video game, or magazine – how much would this world change? How much freedom would we retain and regain?
If every individual chose to be a positive force in the lives of their own children and in the children they know – how much would this world change?
If every individual chose to be kind to everyone they meet – how much would this world change?
We are not alone. We can make a difference. We can effect a change. We can preserve our freedom. We can do it one person at a time.
We do not need a large, nationally visible platform. We do not need to be a celebrity. We do not need a huge circle of friends.
We need to begin with ourselves. We need to begin with our families. We need to begin with our friends, and our coworkers, and the person next to us in the checkout line.
Me. I. One. Alone. Significant. Honest. True. Chaste. Kind. Benevolent. Faithful. Merciful. Forgiving. Strong of Spirit. Influential. Great. Loving...
Powerful.
6 Now ye may suppose that this is afoolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by bsmall and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise.
29 And there was also written upon them a new writing, which was plain to be read, which did give us aunderstanding concerning the ways of the Lord; and it was written and changed from time to time, according to the faith and diligence which we gave unto it. And thus we see that by bsmall means the Lord can bring about great things.
33 Wherefore, be not aweary in bwell-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of csmall things proceedeth that which is great.
16 You know, brethren, that a very large ship is abenefited very much by a very small helm in the time of a storm, by being kept workways with the wind and the waves.
58 To aprepare the bweak for those things which are coming on the earth, and for the Lord’s errand in the day when the weak shall cconfound the dwise, and the little one become a estrong fnation, and two shall put their tens of thousands to gflight.
59 And by the weak things of the earth the Lord shall athrash the nations by the power of his Spirit.
27 But God hath chosen the afoolish things of the world to bconfound the wise; and God hath chosen the cweak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
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WOW - another well-written post. And so timely.
ReplyDeleteA few days ago I was feeling so upset and disappointed by certain Resolutions in the House.... and totally uninvolved, unable to prevent it or respond. The next day I verified the information I'd been given was correct and then I got HOPPING MAD. That's what snapped me out of it.
You're so right - we can be a catalyst of change in our spheres of influence. And just like ripples in a pond, if each person we touch goes off and does the same, sooner or later the ripples will be big enough to affect major changes. But we have to START.
Thanks for another amazing post. :-)
Powerful, powerful stuff, my lady. You are an awesome writer, but I knew that already. ;) Glad I got a minute to breathe and come see the incredible stuff you are doing on here. And your home baking day pages made me HUNGRY!!! Cheryl cookies, anyone? Mine never come out as good anyway.
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