Looking back...I think my most fulfilling posts have involved making a difference. We all have problems, stress, money issues, family issues...it's amazing when you finally stop spending all your time thinking about yourself. The what if's, how come, why me, it all doesn't matter. I can say this because as we go through one of the most trying times in our life right now, I know that the monetary things are not the most important. I feel at peace...I spend my time trying to help others and not think of myself. Things are out of our control, so I choose to take control of the situations I can. Finding ways to help other people. On the day of my 100th post...I was able to be a part of something special.
OGGI'S PIZZA & OC PIZZA donated ALL the Food~100% of Profit benefitted the Gane Family!
Owner of Oggi's in the striped shirt with Al & Maria
Jr. Midget Team Fundraiser Dinner
Raising money to help a family with a sick child is something that far out weighs our situation! I keep praying for a purpose in my life...being the change in someone's life has given me a direction. "I am only one person...what can I do?" This question was one that I often asked myself, which was followed by, "Nothing I guess, so I wont do anything." Year after year, excuse after excuse, I would repeat this. Until I realized, I can do small things that might make a BIG difference to someone else.
If you have been pondering this...I'd like to encourage you to start with SOMETHING! No matter how small, the little things will lead you into bigger things, before you know it, you've changed someone's world. The less time you spend focusing on yourself the better you'll feel.
Today our team gave of our time and money to help relieve the burden for a family with a sick child. Small but meaningful, rewarding and encouraging...I can make a difference in someone's life...one small act of unselfish giving at a time. I would like to challenge you and ask that by the time you reach your 100th, 200th or 500th post...you write about something that inspired you to be the change in the world!
I have attached a few of my favorite posts from the past year...I hope they will inspire at least one person to reach out~I started with a true story about an amazing experience that changed my life.
MY CHRISTMAS MIRACLE - A TRUE STORY
http://searchwarp.com/swa278027.htmDOES SOMEBODY NEED YOU?
http://lisapetrarca.blogspot.com/2008/05/does-somebody-need-you.htmlINSPIRATIONAL POEM ~ PUSH AHEAD
http://lisapetrarca.blogspot.com/2008/04/uplifting-poem-push-ahead.htmlTHIS WILL GIVE YOU CHILLS
http://lisapetrarca.blogspot.com/2008/03/this-will-give-you-chills.htmlCAN YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN A DAY
http://lisapetrarca.blogspot.com/2008/01/can-you-make-difference-in-day.htmlTHE EDISON BUM
http://lisapetrarca.blogspot.com/2008/07/edison-bum.html INSPIRATIONAL STORY FROM DR. IN SOUTH AFRICA
http://lisapetrarca.blogspot.com/2008/07/inspirational-story-from-dr-in-south.htmlAN ATTEMPT IS EVERYTHING
http://lisapetrarca.blogspot.com/2008/06/attempt-is-everything.html
THE INVISIBLE MAN
http://lisapetrarca.blogspot.com/2008/05/invisible-man.htmlPLAY VOCABULARY GAME ~ HELP THE HUNGRY
http://lisapetrarca.blogspot.com/2008/04/play-vocabulary-game-help-hungry.htmlI HAD A REALLY COOL EXPERIENCE
http://lisapetrarca.blogspot.com/2008/03/i-had-really-cool-experience.htmlSKID ROW
http://lisapetrarca.blogspot.com/2008/02/skid-row.htmlHELP KIDS IN AFRICA
http://lisapetrarca.blogspot.com/2008/02/help-kids-in-africa.htmlI would like to close my 100th Post with a story:
Cherokee Indian LegendDo you know the legend of the Cherokee Indian youth's rite of passage? His dad takes him into the forest, blindfolded and leaves him....alone. He is required to sit on a stump the whole night...and not take off the blindfold until the ray of sun shines through it. He is all by himself. He cannot cry out for help to anyone.
Once he survives the night he is a MAN. He cannot tell the other boys of this experience. Each lad must come into his own manhood. The boy was terrified-could hear all kinds of noise...Beasts were all around him. Maybe even some human would hurt him. The wind blew the grass and earth...and it shook his stump. But he sat stoically - never removing the blindfold. It would be the only way he could be a man.
Finally, after a horrific night...the sun appeared and he removed his
blindfold. It was then that he saw his father sitting on the stump next to him...at watch...the entire night!
We are never alone. Even when we do not know it, our Father is protecting us...He is sitting on the stump beside us. All we have to do is reach out to Him. Joshua 1:9
