Make a Difference

She hadn't even seen him.
With hands 'neath small arms, she was helping the little one skate.

The arena was full. The crisp air was charged.
Skates cutting into ice. Children laughing and whizzing by.
Baby was tottery, hanging onto the cone, hanging onto her.

She was bent over the baby when she saw him.
Six feet away. Also at the edge of the rink.
He was about eleven.  Full in the face. Blue sweatshirt.
He was not from her group.  She had never laid eyes on him before.
He was moving very slowly, grasping the ledge.
Each 'step' was effort. While others glided, he labored.

And then she saw them...tears trickling down his cheeks....
He would have rather been in solitary confinement,
than to be 'stepping' around the rink, grasping the ledge.
While the other children glided by, effortlessly.
The happy noise around her faded.
Her heart took one huge leap toward the boy.
And tears welled in her eyes.

She skated with the baby, 

'stepping' along,

attempting to teach the baby to push the cone.

She couldn't forget the boy.  

The tears.

She couldn't forget the feelings 

that had to be welling in his heart.

After a few minutes she found herself next to him.
Should she?  Dare she?
But she knew when Jesus prompted. She'd been here before.
She knew His voice and He was asking her to reach out.
How could she not?  How dare she not?

Not having a clue what words might come out,
She looked at the young boy, opened her mouth, and,
"You're doing a good job"
He stared, wide eyes, glistening.  Hers teared.
She continued, "and you know what? 
Don't look at the other children, at how good they are.
Because you know what?  You may not be good at skating,
but I know you are good at a lot of other things".

He shook slightly and stared.  Then he nodded, slightly.
She went on with pools in her own eyes,
"I am so proud of you; that you are here, skating".
More wide eyed, unbelieving stares. Nodding again.
She touched his shoulder and said,
"And you know what, I love you."
She had no idea why she said it, why she felt it.
But it was true.  And he stared as though he'd seen an angel.
She skated away. She had to. Tears ran down her cheeks.

And she wept today as she told the story.
Because there was a time she didn't know what it was like to care like this.
And then she met a Man, truly met a Man.
Who made all the difference in her life.
Who opened her heart to His love, which made all the difference in her life.
And then in turn, He opened her heart to love others,
and make a difference in their life.


And this was such a big change to her
that she still cries
as He surprises her time after time
with the difference.
And you'll hear her praising that Man,
and unashamedly telling of
His great, great love,
To anyone who wants to hear....


Praying that you will turn your eyes to that Man today.
That you will meet Him, so that He can make a difference in your life.
So that you can make a difference in someone else's life.