You have influence right where you are! Are you using yours well?
Never doubt the impact you have on those around you. Yes, I am saying this as much to myself as I am to anyone reading these words. Days pass and I am convinced that no one really hears me when I talk. All the words I speak and the ideas I put out into the world are but vanishing air — vanity, all is vanity — soap bubbles and nothing.
And then one person responds. Repeats what you may have told them. Tells you they appreciate your words and the truth you speak. That one person! And there, hope returns and your intention is renewed. You once again say the things, write the words, live the truth — for you see even in one moment you have influence.
The words we say mean so much. The little words, too, seem to have the most power. As my kids are turning into grown-up people around me, I find myself repeating this truth to them again and again. Maybe I need to be reminding myself of the truth.
The little things we say . . . it’s the little things that mean so much.
Rich DeVos (co-founder of Amway) tells the story of how one person made a comment about the way he looked, and for days he was obsessed with how sick he was becoming. Turns out the place he was, had just been painted a sick yellow color. Everyone in that room looked sick. But for one day, he was completely flipped out about his health, because of a small comment made by one store clerk with no medical training. (You can hear the speech here. Rich’s comments about this one man’s influence on him start at time 14:35)
Things are not so different for us. One comment, one eye roll, one sneer and we are destroyed by what we interpret someone thinks of us. And so, one smile, one hug, one note or cheer can blow into our flagging sails and push us through the gray skies to the sun.
So it is we have that influence over others. How are you using yours? Are you using it? or is it sitting stale in some drawer? Pull it out, dust it off, and go use your influence.
You never know what life-changing idea will be a result of that brave way you bless another with your influence.
God can use the smallest thing . . . even those that seem to have no influence. With those, He changes the world!
Each Friday, the Five Minute Friday community gathers online and writes for five minutes. Timed and unedited we write, then share our stories. What is included today is an excerpt from today’s writing.
My hope is that for you these five minutes brings encouragement and direction as you seek to live a faith-filled and purposeful life.
So much of the writing that I do, is simply me processing the realities of my unpredictable life. Yet, even as I process, I greatly desire to help and encourage you as you learn how to include well those things in your life that move you forward. If you are desiring to live more purposefully – if faith-filled intention is a reality you desire to grow in your life, I invite you to join me on the journey. I don’t have all the answers, but those that I have, I promise to share. And you can know that I am praying for you and cheering you on as you seek to walk a faith-filled, purposeful life.
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