I recently read an article about a 16 year old girl in Branson Missouri who felt the call of God in her life when she was 13 years old to help people in Kenya. With the help of her parents, she formed an official charity and collects goods and money and then spends three weeks each June in Kenya disbursing school supplies, hygiene kits and other medical supplies. She does all this while in high school!

It is refreshing, amazing and unbelievable to know there are some 16 year olds out there interested in something other than texting etc. It is really astounding that someone so young can be so mature and so willing to give of herself. As she stated in the article, she simply has a heart to serve.

As we get older and the burdens of this life pile up, we many times find ourselves in a position of needing or wanting to be served instead of serving. Of course there are many times when due to physical or financial limitations there is no way to actively serve, but that should not diminish the desire to serve or the willingness to pray.

What is the worth of one person? Is serving a multitude really more rewarding than helping one person? I don’t think so. In fact, I know by experience that devoting yourself to help, care for or lovingly support one person, no matter what, carries a far greater reward in one’s heart than preaching to the multitudes.

For years, I was my mother’s official caregiver. Being such demanded incredible sacrifice on my part. The amount of time, effort and money spent to help my mom the final 6 years of her life was remarkable. There were times of excruciating pain, anger and frustration. But, there were also times of intense joy, sweet fellowship and the peace that comes with knowing you are genuinely helping someone.

Interestingly, I find myself now somewhat doing the same thing for my mother-in-law. More and more I see the distinct possibility that I may be (along with her daughter-my wife) her caregiver for a season. This idea neither bothers me nor frustrates me. To the contrary it excites me for it brings with it the possibility of service once again.

Many years ago a Christian band sung a song about “If I could reach just one”. I have always felt that this is indeed the greatest accomplishment any of us can do in this life. This reaching may involve witnessing and bringing someone to Christ, but more times than not it simply is the act of reaching out in love to another brother or sister in Christ who is in need.

Never underestimate what you can do no matter what state you are in. As long as you can pray, speak, write and give; you can indeed make a profound difference in someone’s life. May we all with renewed enthusiasm make it our mission to “reach just one” with Christ’s love.

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