Difference.
One of my dearest friends in all of the world showed this poem to me a few months ago, and I thought I'd share it with you...
Today I Will Make A Difference. by Max Lucado
"Today I Will Make A Difference
Today I will make a difference. I will begin by controlling my thoughts. A person is the product of his thoughts. I want to be happy and hopeful. Therefore, I will have thoughts that are happy and hopeful.
I refuse to be victimized by my circumstances. I will not let petty inconveniences such as stoplights, long lines, and traffic jams be my masters.
I will avoid negativism and gossip. Optimism will be my companion, and victory will be my hallmark. Today I will make a difference.
I will be grateful for the twenty-four hours that are before me. Time is a precious commodity. I refuse to allow what little time I have to be contaminated by self-pity, anxiety, or boredom. I will face this day with the joy of a child and the courage of a giant.
I will drink each minute as though it is my last. When tomorrow comes, today will be gone forever. While it is here, I will use it for loving and giving. Today I will make a difference.
I will not let past failures haunt me. Even though my life is scarred with mistakes, I refuse to rummage through my trash heap of failures. I will admit them. I will correct them. I will press on. Victoriously. No failure is fatal. It’s OK to stumble…I will get up. It’s OK to fail…I will rise again. Today I will make a difference.
I will spend time with those I love. My spouse, my children, my family. A man can own the world but be poor for the lack of love. A man can own nothing and yet be wealthy in relationships. Today I will spend at least five minutes with the significant people in my world. Five quality minutes of talking or hugging or thanking or listening. Five undiluted minutes with my mate, children, and friends.
Today I will make a difference."
I have been thinking alot about God's will for my life, and I'm realizing I don't really have a clue what that will look like. But I've been reminded over and over again recently that God's will for my life is not something of the future, it's practical today. Waking up, eating, working, studying, shopping for Christmas gifts, making a few phone calls, writing a few letters, spending time with my family and friends, etc... this is God's will for my life today. I need to make my time count!
I'm thankful that I don't have to know every detail about my future. If I walk with God today, I will accomplish His plan for my life for today... and in 20 years, I'll be right where I need to be!!
Today I will make a difference. I will begin by controlling my thoughts. A person is the product of his thoughts. I want to be happy and hopeful. Therefore, I will have thoughts that are happy and hopeful.
I refuse to be victimized by my circumstances. I will not let petty inconveniences such as stoplights, long lines, and traffic jams be my masters.
I will avoid negativism and gossip. Optimism will be my companion, and victory will be my hallmark. Today I will make a difference.
I will be grateful for the twenty-four hours that are before me. Time is a precious commodity. I refuse to allow what little time I have to be contaminated by self-pity, anxiety, or boredom. I will face this day with the joy of a child and the courage of a giant.
I will drink each minute as though it is my last. When tomorrow comes, today will be gone forever. While it is here, I will use it for loving and giving. Today I will make a difference.
I will not let past failures haunt me. Even though my life is scarred with mistakes, I refuse to rummage through my trash heap of failures. I will admit them. I will correct them. I will press on. Victoriously. No failure is fatal. It’s OK to stumble…I will get up. It’s OK to fail…I will rise again. Today I will make a difference.
I will spend time with those I love. My spouse, my children, my family. A man can own the world but be poor for the lack of love. A man can own nothing and yet be wealthy in relationships. Today I will spend at least five minutes with the significant people in my world. Five quality minutes of talking or hugging or thanking or listening. Five undiluted minutes with my mate, children, and friends.
Today I will make a difference."
I have been thinking alot about God's will for my life, and I'm realizing I don't really have a clue what that will look like. But I've been reminded over and over again recently that God's will for my life is not something of the future, it's practical today. Waking up, eating, working, studying, shopping for Christmas gifts, making a few phone calls, writing a few letters, spending time with my family and friends, etc... this is God's will for my life today. I need to make my time count!
I'm thankful that I don't have to know every detail about my future. If I walk with God today, I will accomplish His plan for my life for today... and in 20 years, I'll be right where I need to be!!
That's a great place to be! I remember a time when I too came to that place where I realized that getting up and brushing my teeth (for sure!) and taking care of my daily responsibilities WERE God's will for me. It's a day by day journey and sometimes it's easy to forget that as we get caught up looking ahead. Thanks for the reminder!
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