When are you going to get to the point where you are MAD in your community? I am happy to say I am at that point now. I can proudly standup and say I am M.A.D. I am Making a Difference!!
I recently attended the funeral of the mother of one of my best friends. She was a community activist that dedicated her life to doing for others. And after I read her obituary, I said to myself: “You have work to do.” This woman, who was a mother of two and who worked full time, was able to make an impact in so many lives.
She could have easily used any number of excuses that so many people use to talk themselves out of working in the community: “I work full-time, my kids are little, I don’t have the funds or resources, or I don’t know how to get started.” But she didn’t and so many people’s lives were changed for the better because of selflessness.
You don’t have to do anything major to make a difference. As stated in the movie Evan Almighty, the way to change the world is: “One single act of random kindness at a time.” You can do something small to make an impact on another person’s life and that small act can snowball into a huge blessing for that one person or for others.
Because of this website, Lamar and I have been blessed with many opportunities to help people in ways that we never could have imagined. For instance, as members of the Pampers Baby board, we were given a years supply of pampers to do with as we pleased (i.e. we could use them for our own kids, or give them away, etc.) So Lamar and I decided to give them to the Atlanta Diaper Relief. And we video taped, the interview where we presented the diapers to Kia Morgan, the founder of Atlanta Diaper Relief.
Because of our donation, Kia was able to establish relationships with additional organizations that have parents in need of diapers. But what was so awesome about this entire gift is that it keeps on giving. A doctor saw the video that we made, and she is now organizing a diaper drive in 5 offices!! Isn’t that awesome!! It just keeps paying itself forward.
Even the smallest things that you do will have a ripple effect in the lives of others, such as a kind word to a stranger that seems to be having a bad day. How about donating five dollars to a cause? Because those dollars do add up!! If you only have one day a month to volunteer, then do it. If you have started a blog that shares your testimony or encourages others in some way, don’t quit as you are making a difference in someone’s life. Please keep writing.
Please don’t ever feel that the kind things that you are doing are not making a difference “...because they do.
I do believe that our words and our actions are powerful and we have the ability to use them to change someone’s life. But along those same lines, your words and actions can also be used to tear someone down. So please be aware of the power that you have and take every day as an opportunity to use that power for good!!!
BMWK Family Are you M.A.D? If yes, please share with us the things that you are doing to make a difference. Are you becoming discouraged about your efforts because you are not seeing results? Please don’t give up.
The most important thing is just to remember that one person can make a big difference by having a domino effect, like in that one banking/insurance commercial. Even being extra nice to one person can have a ripple effect for the rest of the day, week or even month!
Thanks Tara…you are so right you never know how a kind word can turn someone’s day around. I stopped at a store a few weeks back before work. And I was kind of in a rush, but the clerk took that moment to pour her heart out to me. She was African and was feeling down about the fact that she lived with her parents, she was not married, and she needed a better job and she missed home. She went on and on..she made me late for my meeting. But I did not brush her off, I just listened and gave her some encouraging words.
She did not know me and she chose me and that moment to release some of her concerns. I hope I said something to her that gave her hope.
My family is M.A.D. in our community. Our daughter is a fourteen year old classical violinist. Since she was about five years old, we’ve been taking her to nursing homes and community events to perform for those who may not be able to get to a concert hall. We do this periodically, but especially at Easter and Christmas, to show the love of Christ to the sick and shut in. The response has been amazing. She’s been invited back numerous times, and has welcomed the opportunities to perform for those in our communites who do not frequent concerts.
At times, we have had my daughter’s friends (who are also musicians) join her and play classical music in a duet or trio. People are very encouraged by the ability of these kids to play at the level that they do. These young performers are proof that our kids are capable of achieving anything they put their hands to (when they have the support of their parents, and communities)!
I think that what you daughter is doing for the sick, shut-ins and people in nursing homes is awesome and very much needed. My father’s church has a nursing home ministry and everything we do for the seniors is very much appreciated!!
I love what you guys are doing and I’m trying to do the same. I’m looking forward to encouraging positive relationships through my blog and speaking/workshops. Eventually I’ll become a Marriage and Family Therapist. I want to give back to my community and ease the pain.