You matter

There is a story about a beach filled with Starfish.  A boy is walking along the beach picking

the Starfish up and throwing them back into the sea.

Now to look at the many thousands of Starfish that speckled the coast line 

it seemed like a daunting task.  

The story goes, that a man walking along that very same beach, came upon the boy

and watched him as he threw yet another Starfish in the water.

The man laughed as he asked "Son, what are you doing?"

The boy replied "I'm throwing the Starfish back in the sea, so that they will live"

The man said "But look at all the thousands of Starfish there are....you can't possibly make a difference!"

The boy picked up another Starfish and as he tossed it into the water he said

"I made a difference to this one"

We all matter.  You matter.  The people we speak to, relate with and meet each day matter.  

What we say and how we act matters too.  You can make a difference in another 

persons life....wow.  When you truly think about that, it's amazing.  

Each one of us has an opportunity to be something to someone.  Hmmm, something to someone is pretty vague isn't it?  Did you ever stop and have a quick chat with someone in passing and suddenly they are saying something that you really needed to hear?

Maybe you were doubting your parental skills that particular day 

and you ran into a woman whom you've know for a while.  In your quick conversation she say's

"Well I'm just praying my little one's grow up to be like your teens....you're sure doing something right"

You walk away thinking 'wow...maybe I AM doing something right'

Maybe you're feeling like no one appreciates your efforts, at home, at work or in general.

Then suddenly someone comes up to you and says "I'm so glad you helped out with the children's play this year...we couldn't have done it without you!" 

You feel a smile grow from inside.

But then there are those really deep things you hold inside.  You pray for guidance and ask that God just show you the way.  These things aren't the obvious things.  Maybe it's a hurt from a long time ago that keeps rearing it's ugly head.  It could be that you just aren't sure what direction you should be going in.

Then it happens.  You're out to lunch with your girlfriend and she say's something so specific to your

situation.  She doesn't even know though, that this has been heavy on your heart.  She answers a question that hasn't even been asked out loud.  The conversation carries on, you finish lunch and go your separate ways, but you can't  help but be captivated by the fact that you got an answer.

You matter.  God is listening.  He's listening when you do a little rant in the laundry room out loud, when no one is home, about how it would be great if at least one person

in the house took the time to un-crumple their socks before they stuck them in the laundry bin.  

(You know who you are.)

He's listening when you're praying in the car about the fact that you just can't

possibly fit one more thing into your life right now.

He's listening when you lie awake and quietly contemplate all the things you're sure you

did wrong with your kids through the years.

He's listening when you say "Just tell me what to do God!"

He's listening.

He's also answering.

Here's where we sometimes miss the boat.  

God knows that each one of us can make a difference in each others lives.  He uses us to answer the questions we ask.  As much as God wants us focused and following him....he also wants us to walk together.

Fellowship

Fel·low·ship

   [fel-oh-ship]  Show IPA noun, verb,fel·low·shipped or fel·low·shiped, fel·low·ship·ping orfel·low·ship·ing.

noun

1.

the condition or relation of being a fellow: the fellowship ofhumankind.

2.

friendly relationship; companionship: the fellowship of fatherand son.

3.

community of interest, feeling, etc.

4.

communion, as between members of the same church.

5.

friendlines

He uses our relationships to reach out to us...... to comfort us.....to answer us.

Like the boy painstakingly throwing each Starfish back into the water, God also takes value in each and every one of us.  Because we matter.

You matter.

So, appreciate the miracles around you.  Appreciate the relationships that God

has put in your path to speak to your heart.  

Remember too that God will use you to do the same.  

What we say and how we act do matter, and we can make a difference

in another persons life.  

HE uses each and every one of us to do that every day.

God Bless,

Patti