I know that this is a little bit early but National Make a Difference Day is coming up on Saturday, October 26th! It comes around every year on the 4th Saturday of October and is a great reminder to celebrate all the work done through community service and volunteering throughout the year, and all the work yet to be done in service to others. It is also a great day to go out to do some good work for and with your community! Every bit of help given makes a difference to someone or some project or some goal within the community. That moment of kindness, can mean the world.
Making a difference is not easy but putting in the effort is so important. I came across this prayer written by Maryknoll Affiliate, Ellie Hays, that expressed that sentiment beautifully:
“May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships, so that you will live deep in your heart.
May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people and the earth so that you will work for justice, equity, and peace.
May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer so you will reach out your hands to comfort them and change their pain into joy.
And may God bless you with the foolishness to think that you can make a difference in the world, so you will do the things which others say cannot be done.”
In reading through reflections, I came across one written by Sr. Madeline Dorsey that provided a beautiful example from a community in El Salvador of displaced persons all pitching in to make a difference for their community as a whole.
“I asked them what their greatest need was that they thought they could work toward, their answer was immediate: an herbal garden and medicine – the cost of which was beyond them.
So the work began. The women’s husbands knew they needed to fence in the plot next to our chapel, and an experienced city water worker needed to extend the water line to place a faucet on the outer chapel wall for watering purposes. This helped with chapel cleaning, too. The planting took a little time but the blossoming seemed overnight, and their care was tender.
Next came the making of syrups and ointments, for which in turn we needed to purchase Vaseline and a few items, which required raising minimal funds. Ingenuity prompted the women to think how well pupusas (a favorite type of tortilla with filling, toasted over open fire) would sell after our Saturday night Mass – and did they ever! Needless to say, they are a favorite of mine, too.
The archdiocese had a health training program that obliged with a series of classes for our devoted women workers. A solicitation from Maryknoll and friends back home realized sufficient funds to erect a simple structure to serve as clinic and work area; plus, we obtained weekly visits from a doctor. So, herbal medicine was available and health care, too, for a poor and deserving people.”
With a bit of help and time from everyone, their idea of being able to create an herbal garden and have medicine for their entire community became a reality. They all helped to make a difference within their own community and, in doing so, their initial goal was far surpassed. Their inspiring story reached beyond their community and garnered help from others, allowing them to not only provide herbal medicine but also provide health care for their whole community.
Take a moment today to remember that everyone has the capability to make a difference, including you! There is so much going on in our world right now. For every kindness you offer others, for every action you take to help, thank you. We celebrate all of you who are making a difference!
