Ordinary People Can Do Extraordinary Things

“Everybody can be great…because anybody can serve…You only need a heart full of grace…A soul generated by love.” – Martin Luther King, Jr

Speaking of those who serve, a few years ago I was able to attend a conference that highlighted ordinary people who had done some extraordinary things with their lives.  There was a 16 year old girl who lived through seeing entire village massacred in Africa at the age of 10 years old, who now spreads a message of hope to survivors.  Then there was a 40 year old woman in Africa that stood up to a terrible dictator and who brought thousands of African women together in Africa to help her take a stand against these tyrant leaders who were mistreating their people.  She and this group of women literally surrounded the courthouse and locked arms together and refused to let the men leave that building until they negotiated a peace agreement with one another.  They risked their lives to do the right thing.  Another story was the story of a young girl who wanted to help the people whose homes were destroyed in the hurricanes so at the age of 14 she started a charity which has gone on to raise tens of millions of dollars in the last three years.  Here she is at the age of 17 with a charity that has involvement of over 4 million kids from all over the planet.  Another was the story of a 15 year old girl that was sold into prostitution and slavery by a family member where she was abused for 5 years before she finally escaped.  She is working with authorities to help them to track down the mafia group that headed up the prostitution ring that controlled her and because of that when this young lady came to the stage to talk to the audience they had to cover her face to keep her identity a secret from the bad people still after her.

Hearing all of these stories at this conference all I could do is sit there and think “What the heck have I done in my life compared to these amazing ladies???”  It made me really stop and ask myself if I shouldn’t be doing more.  Certainly if these women could do such courageous things in the world then I had no excuse for not doing everything I can do to contribute to the world as well.  Seriously, no excuse or bad circumstance that any one of us have in our life comes anywhere close to the horrible circumstances that some of these women had going on in their lives when they stood tall to do amazing things.  It really humbled me significantly and it put everything in perspective in my life.  It helped me realize that every one of us has a duty to stand tall and be courageous and do something really impactful and good with our lives.

We have a responsibility to do something to help others in this world.  Maybe we won’t be called on to put our lives in danger but there is something that every one of us can do, even if it’s small.  It may be as small as touching people around you with small acts of service, or it may be by getting involved in politics, or taking a stand on issues politically, or helping out with a charity. There are unlimited things we can find to do to help the world be a better place.  We just have to decide to care enough to do those.

Never underestimate the power of what one person can do.

THE POWER OF ONE

One song can spark a moment
One flower can wake the dream
One tree can start a forest
One bird can herald spring

One smile begins a friendship
One handclasp lifts a soul
One star can guide a ship at sea
One word can frame the goal

One vote can change a nation
One sunbeam lights a room
One candle wipes out darkness
One laugh will conquer gloom

One step must start each journey
One word must start each prayer
One hope will raise our spirits
One touch can show you care

One voice can speak with wisdom
One heart can know what’s true
One life can make the difference
You see, it’s up to you!!
(Author Unknown)

Have a great day everyone, and REMEMBER YOU HAVE THE POWER OF ONE!

~Amy

 

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