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There are many times in life when we get so absorbed in a job what we are
doing that we forget to show our love and appreciation towards those around
us. It is important that we tell our friends and family that we love them
and that they are an important part of our life. We may think they already
know this, but we still need to take the initiative and let them know of
our love and appreciation.
I hope you enjoy this story that shows what great things can come forth
when we show the love and appreciation that we have towards those around us.
WHO I AM MAKES A DIFFERENCE
A teacher in New York decided to honor each of her seniors in high school
by telling them the difference they each made. She called each student to
the front of the class, one at a time.
First she told each of them how they had made a difference to her and the
class. Then she presented each of them with a blue ribbon imprinted with
gold letters, which read, "Who I Am Makes a Difference."
Afterwards the teacher decided to do a class project to see what kind of
impact recognition would have on a community. She gave each of the
student's three more ribbons and instructed them to go out and spread this
acknowledgment ceremony. Then they were to follow up on the results, see
who honored whom and report back to the class in about a week.
One of the boys in the class went to a junior executive in a nearby company
and honored him for helping him with his career planning. He gave him a
blue ribbon and put it on his shirt. Then he gave him two extra ribbons
and said, "We're doing a class project on recognition, and we'd like you
to go out, find somebody to honor, give them a blue ribbon, then give them
the extra blue ribbon so they can acknowledge a third person to keep this
acknowledgment ceremony going. Then please report back to me and tell me
what happened."
Later that day the junior executive went in to see his boss, who had been
noted, by the way, as being kind of a grouchy fellow. He sat his boss down
and he told him that he deeply admired him for being a creative genius.
The boss seemed very surprised.
The junior executive asked him if he would accept the gift of the blue
ribbon and would he give him permission to put it on him. His surprised
boss said, "Well, sure." The junior executive took the blue ribbon and
placed it right on his boss's jacket above his heart. As he gave him the
last extra ribbon, he said, "Would you do me a favor? Would you take this
extra ribbon and pass it on by honoring somebody else? The young boy who
first gave me the ribbons is doing a project in school and we want to keep
this recognition ceremony going and find out how it affects people."
That night the boss came home to his 14-year-old son and sat him down. He
said, "The most incredible thing happened to me today. I was in my office
and one of the junior executives came in and told me he admired me and
gave me a blue ribbon for being a creative genius. Imagine. He thinks I'm
a creative genius. Then he put this blue ribbon that says: 'Who I Am Makes
a Difference,' on my jacket above my heart. He gave me an extra ribbon and
asked me to find somebody else to honor. As I was driving home tonight, I
started thinking about whom I would honor with this ribbon and I thought
about you. I want to honor you. My days are really hectic and when I come
home I don't pay a lot of attention to you. Sometimes I scream at you for
not getting good enough grades in school and for your bedroom being a mess,
but somehow tonight, I just wanted to sit here and, well, just let you know
that you do make a difference to me. Besides your mother, you are the most
important person in my life. You're a great kid and I love you!"
The startled boy started to sob and sob, and he couldn't stop crying. His
whole body shook. He looked up at his father and said through his tears,
"Dad, earlier tonight I sat in my room and wrote a letter to you and Mom
explaining why I had killed myself and asking you to forgive me. I was
going to commit suicide tonight after you were asleep. I just didn't think
that you cared at all. The letter is upstairs. I don't think I need it
after all."
His father walked upstairs and found a heartfelt letter full of anguish
and pain. The envelope was addressed, "Mom and Dad!"
The boss went back to work a changed man. He was no longer a grouch but
made sure to let all his employees know that they made a difference. The
junior executive helped several other young people with career planning and
never forgot to let them know that they made a difference in his life...one
being the boss's son.
And the young boy and his classmates learned a valuable lesson. Who you
are Does make a difference.
Author Unknown
We may never know how our kind words affected someone else who was down or
discouraged. It is important that we recognize the power that we have in
giving encouragement and recognition towards those around us. We will be
showing the love and compassion of Christ and whether we realize it or
not, we will be making an impact that can never be forgotten.
I encourage you to be quick in giving words of encouragement and blessing
whenever you have the opportunity to do so. Never think that your simple
words will not be powerful enough to change someone's day or even their
life. God calls us the children of Light and as such we are to brighten
the paths that are before us so that all men may see Who lives within us.
(Matthew 5:16) (1 Thessalonians 5:11-14) (Luke 6:30-36)
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
1 Thessalonians 5:11-14 "Therefore comfort each other and edify one another
just as you also are doing. And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those
who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to
esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. Be at peace among
yourselves. Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort
the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all."
1 John 4:7-11 "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and
everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does
not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested
toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we
might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that
He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved,
if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another."
Romans 12:14-18 "Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the
same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but
associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. Repay no
one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If
it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men."
All scriptures can be found in the New King James Version Bible.
Today's Selected Poem: GOD'S BIGGEST ANGEL
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/enpoem81.htm
Today's Selected Testimony: GOD KNOWS ME
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony128.htm
In Christ's Service,
Dwayne Savaya
Gods Work Ministry |
