Have you ever been hijacked by the lie that you are a nobody? You begin to compare yourself to others around you and you think, “What have I ever done that has really made a difference in the world I live in?” You see people who have started successful businesses, neighbors who have prospered financially, relatives whose kids are more athletic or intellectually gifted than your children and you hear yourself whisper the distorted deceptive untruth that starts with, “I’m just a….” I’m just a music teacher. I’m just a stay at home mom. I’m just a mid-level manager. I’m just a receptionist at the bank. I’m just a parent of a child with special needs. And once you let the “I’m just a…” lie fester in your mind it will suck life from you robbing you of the ability to realize and enjoy the difference you can and are making in the world. All of us have the potential to make a difference.
I read a quote yesterday written by Katie Davis, a young woman who believes in the power of changing one life at a time. She wrote,
“People who really want to make a difference in the world usually do it, in one way or another. And I’ve noticed something about people who make a difference in the world: They hold the unshakable conviction that individuals are extremely important, that every life matters. They get excited over one smile. They are willing to feed one stomach, educate one mind, and treat one wound. They aren’t determined to revolutionize the world all at once; they’re satisfied with small changes. Over time, though, the small changes add up. Sometimes they even transform cities and nations, and yes, the world.”
Beth Clark, Kisses from Katie: A Story of Relentless Love and Redemption
I shared this quote with our volunteer hosts who I often hear say, “I really don’t know if I’m making a difference.” This is what I wrote them;
“I hope you believe that you are making a difference in the world! Every time you give your undivided attention to listen to a mom or dad share their precious story you are breathing life into their very souls. Every time you cry with or laugh with or sit quietly with a tired and weary caregiver you remind them they are not alone and what they do as a parent really really matters. When you have the privilege of entering into the sacred place of broken dreams and heartache you have the incredible opportunity to remind our parents that they are loved by God. You are making a difference by reminding the families you host that their life and story matters.”
I have the same hope for you. I hope today you believe that you too can and are making a difference! Maybe you have to change your expectations and become satisfied with small changes as Beth says in her quote. Celebrate the fact that you were there the first time your child used a sign to tell you they wanted a drink. You made a difference! Celebrate making it through one more IEP review with everyone still alive at the end of the meeting. You are making a difference. Be thankful for those rare moments your typical siblings share their hurts and fears with you. You are making a difference. Celebrate the simple fact your children were dressed, fed, and now rest in bed at the end of a long and grueling day. You are making a difference.
You are not a nobody! Say it out loud, “I am not a nobody! I am a difference maker that holds the unshakable conviction that every life matters.” Now go transform the world one person at a time.