It's the Little Things

I was just reading a blog from a girl who lives in Africa, taking care of 12 (yes 12) little girls. I couldn't help but think as I read her blog how amazing it is that she got an opportunity to serve God in such a way. I know it was hard for her, to leave her family and her country, her home and her life, but everything seems so amazing. (Note I'm saying this BEFORE I've even stepped foot into a foreign country!) I think it would be so cool to serve like that. But then I'm reminded. God put me in this place for a reason. God gave me this calling so I could touch people HERE. I don't need to travel halfway around the world to find my calling and do what I'm supposed to do. Right now I'm called to serve right here, I'm called to love right here, I'm called to bless right here, I'm called to give right here. I don't have to be half way around the world to show God's love to people. It's weird how when we think of ministry, it's in a foreign country. Africa, Asia, wherever but not here. not in North America. Fact is, we don't need to go half way around the world to serve. Fact is, God is calling us to serve where we are, right now. We're not in this place by accident or mistake. We're not here because there was no where else on this earth for us to go. We are here to touch lives, to make a difference, to change the world. Changing the world doesn't just start in Africa. We are put in the place we are to change the world. I have a sponsor child, Lilian. She's five and writes me the sweetest little letters. She always tells me how she and her family are doing, asks about my life and tells me about hers. She's not in school yet but she's already very excited to learn. She lives in Guatamala with her family. When ever I write her back, I always tell her how precious she is to me, that I'm praying for her and I begin with the same thing almost every time, 'hey beautiful girl.' It's funny to think that the small letters I send her or the money I give her every month is changing her life. It's weird to think that something that's so small for me is giving Lilian food to eat, clothes to wear, fresh water to drink and a chance at a better life. I'm changing the world from where I am. I'm changing her community, her family and her life. Changing the world doesn't even have to start in Guatamala, like the change I'm doing in Lil, changing the world can be as simple as saying hello to someone as you walk from class to class (or whatever.) It can be as simple as handing out giftcards to homeless people on the streets. It can be as easy as volunteering at the soup kitchen. The little things we do, that we don't think of as changing a life, can actually have a big impact on people. When we hear of a big calling, like the girl I talked about earlier, it's easy to think of our own calling as small or insignificant. It's easy to say that we're not in a place to help people. Truth it- you're own calling is not small or insignificant, no calling is small or insignificant to God. You are just in the place where God wants you to be, to reach out and show people His love and touch them with His touch. Some People are called to do big things, like work in Africa raising 12 daughters, and some people become doctors and lawyers and flip burgers at McDonalds. But where ever you are, whatever you do, how ever you do it, you are touching lives. It doesn't matter where you live or what you do, there are no insignificant callings with God. there are no small roles in the plans He has to touch this world. It doesn't matter if we're a nation away or right here at home, we all have a place in reaching this lost world. there are no small parts with God. And even the little things we do can be part of something amazing.