Jul
31
2017
Go Out And Do Something Small
Posted in Daily Living 4 Comments
We watch the news or read the news reports and get weary.
It seems as if nothing good is ever reported.
It seems as if the world has gone mad.
We often feel helpless.
What can I possibly do to make a difference?
Does anything I do really matter in the scheme of things?
Where do I even begin?
I am just one person.
The voice in our head tells us it is futile.
The voice in our head reminds us of the magnitude of the problems.
The voice in our head tells us that it impossible.
The voice in our head lies.
Fraser is a 20 year old man who lives in Scotland.
Fraser began a small project.
To some it might seem insignificant.
To those his project blesses, it means everything.
Fraser takes elderly residents from a care home out for cycle rides.
He pedals while they sit in a comfortable seat in the front of his bike.
The residents are buckled in for safety.
Fraser even has a blanket that goes neatly over their legs.
The daughter of one resident, named Mary, explains why she is so grateful.
Even though her mother does get out, the cycle rides are quite different.
She explained that her mother goes from the home to the car and from the car to the coffee shop.
Fraser’s cycle rides allow her mother and the other residents to get out in the fresh air.
Fraser has taken 60 residents from one care home out for cycle rides.
There is a transformative effect, Fraser says.
Their eyes light up, he continues.
The residents sing as Fraser pedals.
One woman likened the cycle rides to a Victorian carriage.
It is like a Victorian carriage minus the horse, she said.
But you don’t need a horse when you’ve got a strong pair of legs behind you, she explained.
Fraser’s strong legs and his sheer willingness has made an enormous difference.
Everyone has some time is their life that they could give back to the elder generation and offer them opportunities like this that they wouldn’t get otherwise and really share their stories and celebrate how they lived their life. I think projects like this can make society better. (Fraser)
Mother Theresa of Calcutta would often say, Go out and do something small for God.
The world likes big and grandiose.
The world likes programs and taking control.
After a while the red tape and the delays frustrates the plan so that it never gets done.
But one person can make a difference.
One person with an idea can do so much.
One person who sets out to do what is placed on their heart can affect so many others.
One person who stops talking about doing something and actually goes out and does something.
Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the miraculous signs he had performed by healing the sick. Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. The Jewish Passover Feast was near. When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. Philip answered him, “Eight months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!” Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish. When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten. After the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus did, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself. (John 6:1-15)
Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, noticed the little boy with a meager lunch.
The little boy with a meager lunch was just one person.
Giving his meager lunch away seemed terribly small and insignificant.
However, Jesus can do much with our little bit.
Jesus fed 5,000 men, plus women and children, with the little boy’s meager lunch.
In the hands of Jesus, everything is multiplied.
In the hands of Jesus, nothing goes to waste.
In the hands of Jesus, there is perfect provision.
Do we doubt that Jesus can take our little bit and use it for His glory?
Do we doubt that in the hands of Jesus what we offer is more than enough?
Fraser got on a bike and started pedaling.
His one small act has blessed so many.
What little bit can you offer in Jesus’ name?
Someone needs what you have to give.
It is not insignificant.
It will really make a difference to someone else.
Jesus will make sure of that!
Amen!
Amen, indeed, Diane!
What a good thought to remember! If everyone would do just one nice thing each day, think of all the good that would be done! Even a smile, a “hello” to a stranger is such a help, because that might be the only smile that person got that day. A way to show Jesus’ love.
Sue,
Can you imagine the ripple effect of that one kind act?
What a difference it would make in the world.
Gina