"On your tomb stone it will have the year you were born and the year you died. There will be a dash. That dash will represent all the things that you do, who you were, and the impact you had on other people's lives. What do you want your dash to represent?" -Tim Tebow
Each of us lives and each of us will die. As it is said so often, "the only two things that are guaranteed in life are death and taxes." There is another guarantee though, one that we can control based on how we use our time, our talents, and the faith that has been granted to us...We can all love and make a difference to others. Jackie Robinson was one of the greatest baseball players of all time. He was an MVP, World Series Champion, and most significantly the man who broke baseball's color barrier. Robinson said, "Life means nothing, except for the impact we have on other people's lives." One man can do something about problems in the world, one person can inspire others to be great, and a human life can impact numerous people by how we treat those we encounter.
Sometimes we get overwhelmed with the feelings of insignificance or not being "good enough." We might even feel like what difference are we making if any at all. How could I be like Jackie Robinson, or St. Paul, or Mother Teresa? But it is not about making a name for ourselves. It isn't about fame or glory. Who you are is an easy question to answer, you are a child of God and oh does He have a mission for you. It is easy to fall into the rabbit hole of comparison in a day and an age that is littered with social media postings, a get-ahead mentality, and keeping up with a high class lifestyle. If we are to become our best version of ourselves, it is important for us to stay in our own lane and be the best we can be.
Being our personal best every day will be what makes changes happen where we are for as long as we are there. In other words, bloom where you are planted. Every day we have people around us who take note of our choices, the way we treat others, and how we love. When we put our faith in action, when we do the uncommon thing and make sacrifices it can be a game changer. Mother Teresa is well known for serving the poor in Calcutta, caring for leapers, and healing the hearts of those in distress. She became a great saint and left an imprint on the world. She did what she could do. One of her most famous sayings is, "Do small things with great love." If we heed this advice and each day go about our routine and normal business with a "great love" attitude and approach the world around us will change.
Building up the Kingdom is about loving others where they are and for who they are. Who you and I are is a person created to impact this generation in our own way. We do not know how much time we will have, but if we trust in God's plan for our lives and are receptive to holy moments each day, we will be remembered. What is more than making a name for ourselves is making a name for the one who we represent, Jesus Christ..."And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." (Colossians 3:17) We have the opportunity to make an eternal difference.
Be the best version of yourself each day, one day at a time. Understand that your life is a platform to share the love of Christ with others through the way you interact with people, and how you go about your day. For they will truly know that we are Christians by our love. Becoming a millionaire, acquire fame, acceptance, and power. None of these will provide the joy in knowing at the end of your life that you made an impact on others. There is only one you that will ever exist on this planet. You have unique gifts and talents to share with the world. The world needs everyday heroes of faith who live for an audience of one-God. When we live for Him everything changes and people will see Jesus in us. It is then that they desire to know him more because we love as Christ loved.
So what will your impact be? How will you share love and Jesus with the world. Remember, our Kingdom is not of this world. This life is not the end, it is only the beginning. What greater thing than to live for Him and lead others closer to our Lord.