Making a Difference to One!
Making a Difference to One!
Yes, “I made a difference to that one!”
When I sat on that park bench, listening to the broken story of my broken friend at the “safe house” this week, “I made a difference to that one!”
When you sit down with a cup of tea to listen to a survivor’s story, “You make a difference to that one!”
Even if it’s just one, it makes a difference.
It matters . . . just ONE life matters. Just one story matters. Just one woman matters.
Just ONE matters.
Why?
You may wonder why I would take time and energy to write, tell stories, and raise awareness of sex trafficking. I do it, because I care. I do it, because I believe that “I can make a difference to that one!” I do it, because I believe that “You can make a difference to that one!”
It only takes one. I am one. You are one. Together, we make two . . . and it just multiples. Our “ONE” can turn into “MANY.“
When signing up to help Starfish Project with their fundraising, they asked me why I was passionate about their project.
Here’s what I said:
“My family has been working for more than 20 years with immigrants and refugees around the world. We currently live in Europe, and I volunteer at a safe house with immigrant and refugee women who have been rescued from sex trafficking. It is a growing epidemic, and we CAN do something about it! By raising awareness of this global crisis and raising funds for the cause, we can each make a difference in the lives of these women. We can break down barriers and build bridges of cultural awareness, understanding, and appreciation. Let’s weave cultures and weave our hearts with these women around the world!”
Photo by Will O on Unsplash
Are You Ready?
So, are you ready? Are you ready to respond? Ready to make a difference to that one?!
Let’s Weave Cultures!
Let’s weave our hearts with these women around the world!
Let’s make a difference to ONE!
THE STARFISH PARABLE
One day, an old man was walking along a beach that was littered with thousands of starfish that had been washed ashore by the high tide. As he walked he came upon a young boy who was eagerly throwing the starfish back into the ocean, one by one.
Puzzled, the man looked at the boy and asked what he was doing. Without looking up from his task, the boy simply replied, “I’m saving these starfish, Sir”.
The old man chuckled aloud, “Son, there are thousands of starfish and only one of you. What difference can you make?”
The boy picked up a starfish, gently tossed it into the water and turning to the man, said,
“I made a difference to that one!”
What About You?
How have you responded in the past when you heard heartbreaking stories about real people and real events on the other side of the world? Do you feel like you can’t make a difference? Have you ever heard the “Starfish Parable”? How does that story change your perspective? What are you going to do about it? How will you respond today?