Our world is hurting in more areas than our human minds could have ever thought possible.
Many continue to lose loved ones and friends to this virus we all know of as COVID-19. Many were forced into isolation, not realizing the negative mental health that is occurring on a daily basis.
The majority of education and educators have resorted to doing only distance-learning, which has it’s pros and cons. But students have had to learn how to navigate zoom or google classroom, while lacking in-person interaction with their classmates and friends. Sadly, some are stuck in a front of a screen for hours.I can honestly say that distance-learning has taken a toll on this younger generation that we might never understand. Some schools have slowly gone back to in-person learning with strict protocols such as only certain amount of students present on certain days or for only a certain amount of hours.
Medical frontliners continue to serve their communities, while risking their own lives and the lives of their loved ones on a daily basis.
Our whole world was changed through 2020. No doubt, 2020 will go down in history as one that we will never forget.
One thing that I have observed is that even though these new territories are somewhat behind us, the territories we were on before everything happened, are still there. People are still suffering from other illnesses such as cancer. People are still going through marital problems. People are still experiencing parenting problems. People are still suffering through financial burdens. People are still dealing with job loss. The list could go on!
But my point is, we’re all still recovering and recuperating from something that we never experienced before. Regardless of what political affiliation you are with or what religion you have or whatever your status or position is, wouldn’t you agree that we all could use a little more compassion? Wouldn’t you all agree that we all could give a little more compassion?
We don’t know what our next door neighbor is going through. We don’t know what the grocery clerk is going through. We probably don’t understand what trial our mail delivery person is going through. We might not even know exactly what our spouse and children are going through.
But what if you gave just a little more compassion today than you did yesterday? Did you know that that would make a difference, maybe an even bigger difference than you would have ever anticipated?
“And of some have compassion, making a difference:” Jude 1:22
You don’t need to wait until your life gets better to make a difference. You don’t need to wait until you have the resources to make a difference. You don’t need to wait until you’re in a better position or until you get promoted to make a difference.
You can make a difference today — right now, simply by just having compassion; for some, that might mean giving more compassion than you’re used to or comfortable with.
It is when we are outside of our comfort zones that God can do miraculous things.
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So step out of your comfort zone and make a difference today!
2021 for some has been better. For some, it has been a time of grieving — grieving from a loss of a loved one, a friend, or even a business or occupation. Some have grieved from the loss of friendships, simply because they don’t agree. But disagreement should not be a reason why you lose friends.
For some, it has been a time of recovery and recuperation — recovery from the downfalls that the prior year brought. Recuperation from the loss of strength and hope.
Every single person in 2020 went through some kind of crisis. Sadly, many were “buried” in their crisis. Some were able to build on their crisis. Which will you CHOOSE to be today? I look at our grieving world and wonder how can I make a difference in a world filled with hurting people? BY BUILDING ON THE CRISIS RATHER THAN BEING BURIED IN THE CRISIS.
Here are a few simple steps on…
How to Make a Difference In Your World:
- Pray for God’s grace and strength in your own life
- Pray for those you personally know of who are hurting
- Be kind and compassionate
- Forgive those who have wronged you
- Stop isolating yourself and reach out to at least ONE person today
- Thank God for each new day He gives you
- Love your family
- Bear one another’s burdens
- FOCUS on changing yourself rather than changing others
- Get back up! Get back up! Get back up!
The list could go on but if I could leave you with a simple encouragement today, it is to remember this: The world may be too big for you to change and that’s ok. Don’t be distraught!
SIMPLE TRUTH + ENCOURAGEMENT: You can change the world by beginning with changing YOUR world. Start changing YOUR world by focusing on those in your vicinity or sphere of influence.
FEATURED IMAGE BY ERIC JAMES WARD
Making Today Matter 