A couple of things got me out of my most recent "down" episode... One was the fact that I (through three attempts) forced myself to watch the movie "The Road" - it is depressing as heck so, yes, it took me three tries. But then at the end, as the credits roll, the director placed an audio track that made me realize just how blessed I truly am (and we all truly are). I won't go into it here... I won't spoil it for others. But it truly made me look at things differently.
The second thing is the realization that I don't have to have my name connected to something big that changes the world. I can make a difference one person at a time. I've done it... I've extended a kind word and reassurance to someone, and had them come back to me a month later to tell me that I prevented their suicide by what I told them. I've verbally stumbled over an awkward situation when a child told me (while in front of her mother) that her "mommy and daddy don't live together anymore". I provided the child with the only words I knew to tell her (and I believe God put them in my head right then and there): "Sometimes people lose sight of what it was that caused them to fall in love and they need to go back and see if things really changed or if they just got bored, because true love survives boredom." Three weeks later, the mommy, daughter, and the daddy were in my office, and I had quite frankly forgotten the earlier exchange. I started seeing them in my business about every couple of weeks or so. About six months later, they came in with a gift for me, and I was dumbstruck - for I had no reason to expect anything from them. They looked at me, gave me a hug, and told me that what I had said to their daughter had saved their marriage... There is a sign at the nurses' station where my mother is undergoing cancer treatment. It says: To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world. You stated that you used to go to nursing homes but that it no longer seems to be fulfilling... I think I know how you feel, because as I have gotten older nursing homes seem to be more depressing to me - perhaps because the residents aren't as far away from me age-wise as they used to be. BUT... we have to ask ourselves "Is this about me?" You know in your heart it is not... Go provide some comfort to those in need, and you will reap your reward over time...
You have identified yourself as a Christian, so I ask you: are you working to store up treasures here on earth, or are you working to store up your treasures in heaven? Why does it matter if you get recognition for what you see as "important" contributions to the world? That is the proverbial "15 minutes of fame." What do you consider to be "important" contributions? Sometimes we are looking to get our "name in lights" when the actual important work is not even something for which recognition is given - at least here on earth.
Forgive me if any of this comes across as being harsh, for that is not my intention... But I do believe it to be the truth.
Regards,
Raven6
I got the same about a week ago.
A kind friend said the same to me. I’m not even sure I remember what I said to her.
Her husband was cheating on her and she had two little kids to raise. She said that because of what I told her she felt that she had the strength to carry on in her life. Months after the fact.
So yeah, ONE WORD at the right time can make all the difference in the world in somebody’s life!