Yesterday, I said I will discuss the other e-mail. The question I asked myself was this: "How many sermons, e-mails, courses, etc. must we attend or read, before we are going to make a difference? Why are we so stubborn?
This teacher honor each of her seniors in High School by telling them the difference each of them had made. She told them, one by one, how they had made a difference to her and the class. She presented to each of them a blue ribbon, imprinted with gold letters, "Who I am makes a Difference".
Afterwards, the teacher decided to do a project, to see what kind of impact recognition would have on a Community. Each student got three more blue ribbons, and instructed them to go out this acknowledgment ceremony. They were to follow up on the results, see who honored whom, and report to the class in about a week.
One of the boys went to a junior executive and honored him for helping him with his career planning. He gave him a blue ribbon, and put it on his shirt. Then he gave him two extra ribbons and said that they were doing a class project on recognition, and the junior executive must find some one to honor, and give him a blue ribbon.
The junior executive went to his boss, who had a reputation of being kind of a grouchy fellow. He told him that he admired him for being a creative genius. The boss seemed surprised and he asked permission to put the ribbon on him. He then took one of the blue ribbons and placed it right on his boss's jacket, above his heart. He then asked the boss to take the extra ribbon and pass it on by honoring somebody else. He told his boss that it is a school project, and the teenager will be coming back to see how it affects people.
That night, he went home and sat down with his 14-year old son. He explained to him what had happened. He said: "Imagine! He thinks I am a creative genius! Then he put a blue ribbon on me that says, "Who I am makes a Difference"." He gave me an extra ribbon and asked me to find somebody else to honor. As I was driving home, I started thinking about who I would honor, and I thought about you.
He explained to his son that his days are hectic and when he comes home, he does not pay a lot of attention to his son. He said that he yells at him for not getting good enough grades and for his messy bedroom. He said that somehow, he just wanted to sit there (that night) and tell him that his son does make a difference in his life.
The startled boy started to sob and sob, and he couldn't stop crying. His whole body shook. He then told his dad: "Dad, earlier tonight I sat in my room and wrote a letter to you and Mom, explaining why I had took my life, and I asked you to forgive me. I was going to commit suicide tonight after you were asleep. I just didn't think that you cared at all. The letter is upstairs. I don't think I'll need it after all."
His father went upstairs and found the heartfelt letter full of anguish and pain.
The boss went back to work a changed man. He was no longer a grouch, but made sure to let all of his employees know that they made a difference.
The junior executive helped a lot of young people with their career planning, which one was the boss's son.
Remember, who you are makes a difference. We do not have to wait for a disaster before we change. If we love the way God did, we would not have to change and we can make a positive impact in some body's life.
Go for it. You have got the ability to make a difference. We all do.
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