It was 31 years ago and we were in language school in the French Alps. At night, I would slip into Miriam-Danielle’s bedroom and pray for my daughter. My prayer was that God would bless her life and use her to do great things. I have learned one lesson in life; beware of your prayers, God might just answer them.
Today, Miriam-Danielle steps onto an airplane and puts her feet where her faith is. As part of a short-term mission team to Mozambique in Africa, she will be using her talents as a photographer to document the trip.
It is easy to spout every type of belief so long as others do the lifting or others pay the price. It is even easier to blame the wrongs of the world on others. Those other people, if only they would be willing to sacrifice more or do more than the world would be a better place. It is always someone else’s responsibility to change the world. The reasoning is that those other people have more to give so they have to be compelled to give it, by force if necessary.
The reality is that the world was never changed for good by forcing others into action. The world was never changed for good by making other people sacrifice for the common wellbeing of humanity. The world is changed by people freely willing to do what they can to make a better world.
Miriam-Danielle has learned this principle. My daughter loves and serves those around her, doing small things where she can, and now she is reaching out to the larger world. That is really the way it works. First a person sacrifices for their friends and neighbors, they give to those in need. Then they begin to reach out to others further away, they cannot help themselves. Serving is contagious, it does not have to be compelled or coerced.
So be careful how you pray, you just might change the world. I know I did, starting 31 years ago in the darkness of a bedroom kneeling beside a crib.
Today, Miriam-Danielle steps onto an airplane and puts her feet where her faith is. As part of a short-term mission team to Mozambique in Africa, she will be using her talents as a photographer to document the trip.
It is easy to spout every type of belief so long as others do the lifting or others pay the price. It is even easier to blame the wrongs of the world on others. Those other people, if only they would be willing to sacrifice more or do more than the world would be a better place. It is always someone else’s responsibility to change the world. The reasoning is that those other people have more to give so they have to be compelled to give it, by force if necessary.
The reality is that the world was never changed for good by forcing others into action. The world was never changed for good by making other people sacrifice for the common wellbeing of humanity. The world is changed by people freely willing to do what they can to make a better world.
Miriam-Danielle has learned this principle. My daughter loves and serves those around her, doing small things where she can, and now she is reaching out to the larger world. That is really the way it works. First a person sacrifices for their friends and neighbors, they give to those in need. Then they begin to reach out to others further away, they cannot help themselves. Serving is contagious, it does not have to be compelled or coerced.
So be careful how you pray, you just might change the world. I know I did, starting 31 years ago in the darkness of a bedroom kneeling beside a crib.
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