Making A Difference One Life at a Time

A little boy walked carefully along a crowded beach,
Where starfish by the hundreds lay there within his reach.
They washed up with each wave, far as the eye could see,
And each would surely die if they were not set free.
So one by one he rescued them, then heard a stranger call,
"It won't make a difference... you cannot save them all."
But as he tossed another back toward the ocean's setting sun,
He said with deep compassion, "I made a difference to that one!"

Did you ever read that poem? I have no idea who the author is. But I so appreciate the heart of this little boy.

I don't know about you but there are days when the challenges before me are so many and/or so big, I just can't seem to focus on what I can do.......one at a time. I work in a public Middle School/High School. There are so many needy children. Often I forget to remember what the Word says in Matthew 11:29-30 "Take My yoke upon you. Let Me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light." (NLT) Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary reveals that the word "yoke" in this reference comes from the word "zugos" meaning that this references a yoke that serves to couple two things together. The word is used metaphorically as a picture of submission to authority, of Christ's "yoke," a yoke that is not simply imparted by Him but shared with Him.

What a beautiful picture!! No matter what challenges we face in our day when we remember to first seek the Lord and ask Him what "we" are going to accomplish in the day and submit to His guidance, we can be not unlike the little boy in the poem. We can positively and joyfully give life to one situation at a time. When naysayers or our own stinkin' thinkin' invades our mind, we can easily dismiss it just like the little boy was able to do. We may not solve all the problems we face in a day but, BY THE GRACE OF GOD, we can make a difference with some as we submit to His authority and share the load. We will look back upon our day and find it is well with our souls.

Ladies, let us enjoy facing our challenges today as we, first of all, seek direction from the Lord. Allow Him to share the burdens, knowing we were never meant to carry them alone, for all burdens were meant to be shared with Him. It is for our good and His glory. For His yoke is easy, His burden is light.

Patricia L. Wenzel
Women of Character Graduate

DIGGING DEEPER
Proverbs 4:
25 Let your eyes look directly forward,
and your gaze be straight before you.
26 Ponder the path of your feet;
then all your ways will be sure.
27 Do not swerve to the right or to the left;
turn your foot away from evil.