What You Do Matters

The life you are living today is so powerful and may have effects so lasting and far reaching that the direction of families will be changed for years and years to come.  In some ways, that might be a little daunting or overwhelming, but it's not meant to be.  There are a couple of families on my heart right now, one awesome kid in particular that is facing a big mountain to climb.  The struggle and anguish this world often gives us is heartbreaking and ugly some days, no way around it.  Personally, I hate it so much not to be able to heal a child or bind a marriage back together.  With God all things are possible, but His will sees farther than we can.

But no matter what the future days hold, we can change the world today.  Whether it is being diligent to get that trash out to the curb on time, staying away from a drink just one more week, or showing others why the life and death of Jesus matters, you can change the world for good.  And that's what it's all about.  It's easy and tempting to get caught in the lie that we are islands to ourselves or that carving out a picture perfect life is what's important.

The beauty of our world is that in so many ways, it is open-ended.  We have choices, opportunities and at least a little bit of time today.  Use today up for so much good.  Got mountains of paperwork?  Do it with a smiling attitude.  Kids driving you crazy (this is directed at me)?  Cherish the time you have with them.  Absolutely unhappy with your life and circumstances?  Make a plan to change your attitude or direction.  Here's the most important one: Do you see someone hurting and a way to help? Do something.

The life you live today will influence somebody.  They inturn will be more inclined to act or not.  They might conquer because they saw you do it.  Or they might never attempt that mountain because of something you said or never did.  We can't control the choices of others certainly not any more than we can control everything in our own life.  But we know this is true, in giving or receiving: What you do matters.  For good or bad, it's going to make a difference.

Lately I've been more easily consumed with other people's pain and struggles, especially where I could do nothing but pray.  I needed the reminder to live life and spread the good of Jesus in all circumstances I'm in, not just suffer away over the things I can't change.  Whether it is your own personal tragedy/struggle or the pain of others, let's glorify God in all things.  Without that option, what else is there?

Mark 12:29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

Who Is Going To Change the World? Maybe Not Me.

Every community (or family or relationship) has its frustrations and downfalls.  Worldwide or next-door, we'd all agree that change is needed.  Some days you can't help but grow overwhelmed by it all.  Maybe it's the world you're trying to change or maybe it's that close friend, crazy family member or everyone in-between.  Someone (my mother) wisely advised me that when I couldn't change things, maybe Jude could.  I'd never thought about him and my role as a mother quite like that.  The thought instantly broadened my hope.  As an eldest, strong-willed child, I'm used to feeling as though everything's up to me.  My responsibility to perpetuate good things in the world is still there, but it's not solely based on me.

There is sometimes an immediacy to wanting to change things and people.  To impatient folk like myself, it feels like if it's not changing soon, then change will never come.  When people disappoint  and nothing I do helps, maybe I'm not the person for the job.  Or maybe I'm just approaching the job from the wrong place.  I think there is enormous value in nurturing relationships that I've consistently overlooked.  The good (or bad) we do is often from a distance, 6 degrees of Kevin Bacon-style.   Our relationship with our children, how they grow and develop isn't just a box to be checked with "acceptable" or "unacceptable", but potential lives to be changed by how I parent.  What kind of people will my children be?  What opportunities will they have to touch people's lives and will they accept them with open arms?  What am I teaching my child that is preparing her to change her world?

Think of the last frustrating conversation you had where you just wished you could change someone.  If you can't change someone, then maybe someone you're loving right now can.  Today let's try to remember that every relationship is important and exponentially life changing!

Before we give up on anything,  just think of what God can do with willing hearts!