Making a Difference in Your Community
Linda Weaver Clarke
April 29, 2007
"I shall pass through this world but once. If, therefore, there be any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do, let me do it now; Let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again." –Grellet
Is it possible to make the community that we live in just a little better place? What can we do to make a difference? As Grellet said, is there any kindness we can show or any good thing we can do to help our community? Each of us has something to share, whether it is our talents or love for the youth and elderly of our community.
During summer vacation or school months, the youth and elderly need our help. We can help by volunteering in the Boy Scout program, baseball teams, and youth activities. Our youth will not stray if we spend time with them, help them, and love them. How about the elderly? Not only do they need care and affection, but perhaps our youth would learn more respect for them if they helped an elderly couple with their lawn or clean their windows? We also have many nursing homes in which the elderly need to see the smiling faces of our youth.
When my children were young, I made a point to take them to the nursing homes at Christmas time and we would sing familiar songs to them. Their eyes would light up and they would tap their toes to the rhythm, and some would even sing along with us. Afterwards, it was inevitable that at least one sweet woman would ask our littlest one to sit upon her lap. She would hug my little daughter and talk to her. The joy that filled this woman´s countenance was overwhelming and made our visit worthwhile. Years later, my daughters told me that they remembered those days and were glad they had done this.
Author Michael Ramsdell said, "We are all on this journey of life together, each given certain gifts to make this world a better place and to help make one another´s burdens a little lighter along the way."
Once our community got the youth together and cleaned the yard of a widow. Everyone seemed in good spirits as they laughed and joked while doing their duties. Not only did this woman appreciate it, but also the youth came away with a good feeling of accomplishment and caring for another person.
George Eliot said, "What do we live for, if it is not to make life less different for each other." Can we make a difference in the lives of others? Each one of us can definitely make a difference by showing unselfish love to the elderly and helping our youth.
Meade McGuire wrote:
"Where shall I serve today?" I said.
And my love flowed warm and free.
Then He pointed out a little spot and said,
"There, tend that for me."
I said, "Oh no, not that.
Why no one would ever see,
No matter how well my work was done.
Not that little spot for me."
And the words He spoke, they were not stern,
He answered me tenderly,
"Little one, search that heart of thine.
Art thou serving them or me?
Nazareth was just a little spot
And so was Galilee."
Written by Linda Weaver Clarke, author of the historical/fiction/romance series: "A Family Saga in Bear Lake, Idaho." To learn more, visit www.lindaweaverclarke.com.
Is it possible to make the community that we live in just a little better place? What can we do to make a difference? As Grellet said, is there any kindness we can show or any good thing we can do to help our community? Each of us has something to share, whether it is our talents or love for the youth and elderly of our community.
During summer vacation or school months, the youth and elderly need our help. We can help by volunteering in the Boy Scout program, baseball teams, and youth activities. Our youth will not stray if we spend time with them, help them, and love them. How about the elderly? Not only do they need care and affection, but perhaps our youth would learn more respect for them if they helped an elderly couple with their lawn or clean their windows? We also have many nursing homes in which the elderly need to see the smiling faces of our youth.
When my children were young, I made a point to take them to the nursing homes at Christmas time and we would sing familiar songs to them. Their eyes would light up and they would tap their toes to the rhythm, and some would even sing along with us. Afterwards, it was inevitable that at least one sweet woman would ask our littlest one to sit upon her lap. She would hug my little daughter and talk to her. The joy that filled this woman´s countenance was overwhelming and made our visit worthwhile. Years later, my daughters told me that they remembered those days and were glad they had done this.
Author Michael Ramsdell said, "We are all on this journey of life together, each given certain gifts to make this world a better place and to help make one another´s burdens a little lighter along the way."
Once our community got the youth together and cleaned the yard of a widow. Everyone seemed in good spirits as they laughed and joked while doing their duties. Not only did this woman appreciate it, but also the youth came away with a good feeling of accomplishment and caring for another person.
George Eliot said, "What do we live for, if it is not to make life less different for each other." Can we make a difference in the lives of others? Each one of us can definitely make a difference by showing unselfish love to the elderly and helping our youth.
Meade McGuire wrote:
"Where shall I serve today?" I said.
And my love flowed warm and free.
Then He pointed out a little spot and said,
"There, tend that for me."
I said, "Oh no, not that.
Why no one would ever see,
No matter how well my work was done.
Not that little spot for me."
And the words He spoke, they were not stern,
He answered me tenderly,
"Little one, search that heart of thine.
Art thou serving them or me?
Nazareth was just a little spot
And so was Galilee."
Written by Linda Weaver Clarke, author of the historical/fiction/romance series: "A Family Saga in Bear Lake, Idaho." To learn more, visit www.lindaweaverclarke.com.
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