In moments like these when I feel inundated by the evil in this world, it’s easy for me to feel helpless.
- I can’t heal the mental illness in this world.
- I can’t stop the racist hatred running through people’s hearts and words.
- I can’t change the stats of drug use and violence.
- I can’t stop the evil running through people’s veins.
This world needs a lot of things and I believe Jesus is our ultimate healer AND I also believe God graciously uses us in spite of our imperfections to be His hands and feet.
So what if instead of blaming society, laws, the church, the parents, and whatever other system… we focus on the little things we can do to make a tremendous impact on our family, church, and community?
You see that racist, the bully, the adulterer, the thief, the murderer, the rapist… they didn’t just wake up one morning and out of nowhere decide to heartlessly hurt someone. A hundred little negative things led them there.
It was the myriad of times before they were willing to compromise their values, beliefs, social norms, faith, conscious. It was the infinite number of murky internet searches, videos, texts, books, music lyrics, images, thoughts, and lies they absorbed for hours on end. It was the dark thoughts of the incidents, experiences, hurt, and pain that they replayed over and over again without inviting any light, compassion, truth, love, or kindness.
Little things do make a difference.
I hope you see the impact the little negative things have on our life, heart, and mind.
But the positive little things we do can also move us toward the change we want to see in the world.
Instead of feeling helpless and hopeless let’s meditate on the truth and hope found in God’s word and ponder the little things we can do to make a difference.
Commit to doing one thing from the list below.
What I can do:
- I can be kind to others with a smile, showing patience and concern.
- I can find a place to quiet my heart and pray.
- I can remember that we are ALL created in God’s image and value life.
- I can check in on my child’s internet activity. This isn’t about a lack of trust, but about guiding and protecting them.
- I can show respect to those who are different from me.
- I can choose to turn off my screen and meditate on God’s word.
- I can vote.
- Keep in mind at the other end of my screen there’s a person who has a name, who has emotions, and whose journey I’m unaware of.
- I can choose to rest and unplug.
- I can learn to respect women as human beings, someone’s daughter, mother, aunt, sister… and not as an object.
- I can choose to connect instead of isolate.
- I can offer forgiveness and ask for forgiveness from those I’ve hurt and from God.
- I can call out my children when I see them being unkind. Instead of rationalizing their actions with–They’re just being kids, just teens, just boys, just girls. No, actually they are just being mean.
- I can choose gratitude instead of grumbling.
- I can tell someone their racist joke is not cool.
- I can choose to tell someone about my struggle and ask them to keep me accountable.
- I can speak up for the underdog.
- When I feel angry or stressed I can choose to pause and go for a run or find something relaxing to focus on instead of unleashing my anger.
- I can report suspicious behavior or abuse.
- I can learn healthy ways to express my emotions.
- I can learn healthy coping skills instead of anger, substance abuse, and hatred.
- I can reach out for help to a hotline, counselor, friend, trusted adult, or church leader.
You see the little positive things can also go a long way and impact lives forever for the good.
We all want to do big things, but more often than not, it’s the hundred little things that makes the big difference.
Do the little things!
