Was talking to Chuen yesterday and she said “The words of one person can be so powerful. Because of one encounter she had with a doctor when her grandma was critically ill, she was inspired. The doctor might not be the person that walk her entire medical career decision, but she surely had planted the first seed!”
The power of one person’s word! Whether you realize it our not, you are actually making a difference. We are constantly influencing the people around us without us noticing it.
During my junior’s farewell, she shared how this friend left a footprint in her life. She said 2 ½ years ago, when she first met her friend, J, she was actually crying in her room. But she was so thankful of J for being there, comforting her. When she was sharing this with J, J hardly remembered this encounter – maybe, he was there offering her tissue box; but this “one day” was vividly remembered by my friend.
Your action and presence matters! You may not notice it, but you are making a mark!
Why am I so passionately illustrating this? This is because recently, I have a couple of encounters with different people saying that they do not wanna return to Malaysia after graduation. Say lifestyle overseas is much better than the one in KL. Well, I have no problem with that, because, facts remain as one! Undeniably true. What saddens me was when I hear them saying that our country is “beyond repair”- lack of rights, privileges, opportunities; political issues; corruption – thefts, robberies, crime; the list goes on. To a certain degree, well this might be true. “The grass is always greener on the other side”
Speaking of overseas, I mean the developed countries. Yah, it is definitely cleaner, healthier air to breathe in, better pay and lifestyle, maybe less corruption. But don’t forget, the developed countries been thru what developing countries going through before. We don’t know, because we weren’t born in that generation to see/experience it. What about gun shooting? What about sex promiscuity? Parents’ abandonment? Kids’ upbringing? Do any of these developed countries doing any better than our country? I can’t put a “yes” answer. You tell me!
But I believe, if young people start to have this mentality and start to flee from this country and never return, I wonder what our country will turn out to be. Probably worse? I don’t know. But if we start doing/saying something, I believe there will be changes! Because as lives are changed, values and characters will change for the better, and with that, actions change too!
Maybe the person that you share lives with will one day be a leader in a big company. With that, the values of this company might change. The way they handle business, treat their employees, deal with marketing strategies. Or who knows, this person might turn out to be a doctor, saving lives and doing mission works for the poor, or maybe borderless doctor! Or another possibility where this person’s life might be changed thru’ one word of encouragement that comes from you during a cold, dark night where this man is in his lowest moment. God puts many crossroads in our lives, where we meet different people, and speak into each others’ lives at different point of time. We sometimes help shaped another person’s defining moment without us realizing it.
It’s not a matter of becoming a hero, change the world or whatever. But I believe it is about impacting lives. Even preaching the gospel, it’s not just about getting someone to say the sinner’s prayer, but it is about allowing people experience God in every moment of their lives. That’s a change! That’s the difference I wanna make!
Pastor Shawn said in his blog, “Make a calling decision, not merely a career decision. Make a life, don't just make a living.” I second this statement. My life is definitely a calling decision given by God. What about yours? Is your life so small that it can only be all about you?
Pro18:21The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
