How To Make A Difference
A big thanks to Richard Ezell, a fine Baptist preacher, for passing along the following story as part of the sermon entitled Usefulness: The Impact Virtue.
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She wanted to help, and so, because she was a nurse, she joined eighteen other medically trained people and journeyed to a poverty-stricken third-world country to help alleviate suffering.
After working sixteen hours every day for two weeks, the clinic doors closed. Utterly exhausted, she headed toward the bus for home. Glancing up, she saw hundreds upon hundreds of sick and injured people waiting outside the clinic for treatment they would never receive. She began to weep.
"What's wrong?" asked the nurse walking along with her.
"We haven't even made a dent in the need. What's the use? Have we done any good at all?"
As she turned to enter the bus, a hand tugged at her sleeve. There stood a man she scarcely recognized. Several days before his face had been distended and grotesque from a number of abscessed teeth, his feet so swollen with edema that he couldn't put on his shoes. They'd given him antibiotics and later pulled the abscessed teeth. Now he stood before her—smiling, pain free, with shoes on his feet. He smiled widely, thrust a small bouquet of flowers into her hand, and said simply, "Thank you for saving my life."
As the two nurses boarded the bus, the one said to the one who had been crying, "It looks like you made a difference for that one."
On the bus, the young nurse glanced out at the now dark harbor as a single light came on. Then another. And another. Until the other side of the harbor was ablaze with light. God whispered to her heart, "This is how you make a difference—by treating my little ones—one person at a time."
08.25.07 (11:05 pm) [
edit]
posted by:
squirrelzone (
reply)
post date:
08.25.07 (8:19 pm)
Touching story Pastor Dave.
posted by:
kurtmaddox (
reply)
post date:
08.25.07 (8:24 pm)
Reminds me of the oft-used story of the two-men walking along a beach covered with starfish...
The punch-line's the same -- "it made a difference to THAT one!"
Good stuff, PD!
posted by:
PirateGirl (
reply)
post date:
08.25.07 (8:26 pm)
AH! I absolutely LOVE this one PD! :)
posted by:
LadyG (
reply)
post date:
08.25.07 (9:39 pm)
Beautiful PD, one at a time.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
08.26.07 (3:10 am)
Reply to: squirrelzone
I understand the value of a story to make a point. Of course, Jesus should be my model as a preacher, and He was a master storyteller.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
08.26.07 (3:12 am)
Reply to: kurtmaddox
I've heard it and used it myself. I think about that story when I go to the beach, and start to feel sorry for the many little sea creatures drying on the beach.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
08.26.07 (3:14 am)
Reply to: PirateGirl
Short-term medical missions is a great way to make a difference. After College, I spent my summer on the Rio Grande, and sometimes this involved working with medical/dental teams. It was very rewarding.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
08.26.07 (3:17 am)
Reply to: LadyG
With enough people willing to simply use their candles, indeed we can light the world. Thanks.
posted by:
fractalmom (
reply)
post date:
08.26.07 (6:34 am)
People used to tell me, you can't save them all (talking about kids, dogs, cats, etc.)
I always said, "maybe, but I can try, one at a time."
posted by:
kurtmaddox (
reply)
post date:
08.26.07 (8:33 am)
Reply to: PastorDave
You're just like my Nicole... she tries to slow down to miss butterflies when she's driving through the country! :-)
posted by:
PirateGirl (
reply)
post date:
08.26.07 (9:59 am)
Reply to: PastorDave
I know someone who did the dental help -
wonderful people who are able to do this!
posted by:
bawdy (
reply)
post date:
08.26.07 (11:43 am)
I know how much joy I bring by posting comments. Is the Nobel peace prize too much to expect in return?
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
08.26.07 (1:49 pm)
Reply to: bawdy
You are a strange person. And, yes, I will try to nominate you. Is there a peace prize for Curmudgeon?
posted by:
merc (
reply)
post date:
08.26.07 (2:58 pm)
Touching story PD <3 btw - ty for stopping by :)
posted by:
auntconi (
reply)
post date:
08.27.07 (8:25 am)
"This is how you make a difference—by treating my little ones — one person at a time."
Nice reminder for all of us, PastorDave.
posted by:
spook102956 (
reply)
post date:
08.30.07 (7:20 pm)
Nice story. Thanks! I'm a nurse and some day when I slow down maybe I can go on a mission trip.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
08.31.07 (9:47 am)
Reply to: spook102956
I guess you know that life will never slow down. As with all things in life of value, just make it a priority and do it.
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reply)
post date:
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