3 minute read
Make A Difference
by Evelyn Bathe T he beautiful, inspirational song entitled, “What a Difference You’ve Made in My Life,” popularized by Ronnie Milsap, was first recorded by 16-year-old Amy Grant in early 1977. One verse says that a change has taken place in the heart because of someone. Hearing the song recently got me to thinking: Have I made a difference in this world, the difference I long to make? I’m a teacher at heart and am passionate about instilling God’s Word into people and seeing them grow in knowledge and godly wisdom. Although I don’t have a classroom anymore, I still hunger to make a difference! To make a difference means: • To cause a change • To do something that is important • To do something that helps people or makes the world a better place I believe God intends for us to make a difference in the lives of those we will one day leave behind. We can reach out to children, young people, young couples with struggling families, and older couples who are transitioning into senior living. Joni Eareckson Tada used an illustration likening the culture to honey being poured out on a table. The honey moves slowly, constantly moving in the direction of least resistance. Put a pencil down and it acts as a barrier, causing the honey to change its flow to another course with no resistance. As Christians, we can be like that pencil. We can make a difference in a myriad of ways to stop the negative, sinful aspects of our culture from continuing its deadly path. Change is inevitable—nothing remains the same. Every situation we are involved in changes according to what action we take or do not take. Our actions have a bearing on what kind of difference we are making. If we do nothing, the changes that will naturally occur could be harmful or devastating. We are called to make changes for good, to cause positive changes to take place, to make a difference!
There is a beautiful song I’ve heard recently called, “Only Jesus.” Some of the words are, “I don’t want to leave a legacy; I don’t care if folks remember me, only Jesus.” Although it’s beautiful and I get what the author is trying to say, I personally don’t relate very much to the song. You see, I DO want to leave a legacy! I DO care if folks remember me! I want to leave a legacy for my son, my grandchildren, and my other loved ones. I want them to look at me as part of the “great cloud of witnesses” (Hebrews 12:1) that went before them and lived a life used by God—however the detours, tragedies, and setbacks clouded and darkened my way—that honored Jesus, loved deeply, and prayed fervently. I not only want them to see Jesus but also Jesus in me! I don’t have a lot of worldly goods to leave behind for those I love. The tangible things I cherish and enjoy now will one day be reduced to rubble. Those things that remain will be the joys, sorrows, tears, laughter, the peaceful and turbulent times that produced patience, kindness, perseverance, and a sweet spirit, and a heart dedicated to the One who gave me the opportunity to bring glory to God and make a difference!
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Do you feel you have made a difference in this world? Do you want to?
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The American Cancer Society has updated its recommendation for colon cancer screenings to start at age 45 for those at average risk.* Because colon cancer develops with few symptoms, a colonoscopy is one of the most widely used screenings to help find precancerous polyps that can be removed before they could turn into cancer.
Talk with your provider about scheduling a colonoscopy.
*www.cancer.org
