Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he gave the bread to the disciples, who distributed it to the people…About 5,000 men were fed that day, in addition to all the women and children! - Matthew 14:19-21
As a new high school grad I had a chest full of ambition and a mind full of dreams. I wanted to make a difference in the world—one that would tilt the globe on its axis a bit toward the better. I considered numerous options to make this happen and found myself becoming an artist, a writer, a wife, a mom and, years later, a grandma.
So far in my life I have not cured any diseases, solved world hunger or negotiated peace in the Middle East, nor do I anticipate doing so in the future. What I’ve done is to live a simple life—one devoted to God. Sure, I’ve tried to do my best along the way, but, to be honest, there are times when I feel the weight of my limitations and I begin to wonder if I’ve done enough. What impact have I had?
I love thinking about the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000. In His hands, a few loaves and fish fed a multitude of hungry people! In God’s hands a human life can do the same! God can take a small act of kindness or word of encouragement and multiply it a thousandfold! We can’t begin to know, from our narrow perspectives, how far-reaching our humble lives have been because God has taken our modest acts and amplified them beyond our sight. We’re not the world-changers, but God certainly is. When we partner with Him, there’s no limit to the difference we can make. From my little chair in remote northern Minnesota I trust that every day. So for now, I’ll continue to live my simple life, securely in God’s hands. And I’ll leave the globe-tilting to Him.
CLOSING PRAYER
Father God, thank you for allowing me to partner with you in life and make a difference for the kingdom. It’s exciting to know that I am empowered by Your Spirit to impact this world beyond what I can see! Please continue to guide me in all that I do. In Jesus’ name, Amen.