Encouragement

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CAN WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

by STEPHEN A. PETERSON, PHD

On a warm spring afternoon in Shawnee, Oklahoma, there was a wise teenage girl who walked to the park to do her writing and thinking. She had a habit of walking to Woodland Park even though she had a brand new car that her mother and father worked hard to obtain for her. On this day she walked to the park on the sunny side of the street. As she made her way to the park, she saw what appeared to be a person exercising. Curious she began to walk faster to get a better look at this person's unusual movements. As Lyn got closer, she saw that it was a young woman. The woman was not exercising but picking up small objects then throwing them at the sparse number of tree across the street.

As Lyn got closer, she called out: "Good afternoon! May I ask what you are doing?"

The young woman looked over a Lyn and said: "I am throwing acorns towards the trees over there so that the squirrels won't have to go so far to get acorns to eat. I've watched so many squirrels run across this street to get the acorns on this side of the street. When they try to run across the street, they get hit and are killed. Just yesterday, I saw 4 squirrels get run over by a car. Today, no squirrels have been killed. It has made a difference for this park's squirrels.

Lyn learned that each and every one of us is special. She learned that God has gifted each of us with an ability to make a difference. The key for us is to become aware of that gift through a love of God, His creations and of ourselves. Through prayer and quiet time to hear God's plan, we gain strength in what God has planned for us. Many get off track because they suffer ridicule from others, go through physical or mental pain and suffering, or fears of the unknown for the work that they have been called to do. In many instances, they give up. Remaining prayerful and believe that God knows exactly what He is doing, the strength of our vision and belief that God is in control is difficult for many to recognize and accept. Each of us, Lyn learned, must find our acorns. If we throw our acorns wisely and well, the world, she learned will be richly blessed and many come to know the love of God and never give up their visions to make the world a better place to live for the Kingdom of God.

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