Midweek Musings: Making a Difference

May 4, 2022

By Clara Thompson

Midweek Musings is a weekly Covenant blog with a variety of authors and a variety of topics.

It happened on Sunday evening … and I’m still MUSING!

On Sunday evening, May 1st, just after 8:30pm, our doorbell rang at home. All of the outside lights were out. As I got up out of my comfy chair in the living room to answer the doorbell, my husband asked, “Do you want me to go with you?” (Our doorbell has rung no more than a dozen times in the past couple of years … pandemic, remember?) I cautiously turned on the porch light and opened the door and guess what I found...

A May Day basket!!! I looked around, no one in sight, and I shouted, “THANK YOU!!!”

Here's what I posted on Facebook:

Look what just arrived at our front door!!! Happy May Day to the very dear person who left it by our door, rang the doorbell, and then quickly scurried away!!! I hope you heard my joyful shout of THANK YOU!!!!! Such a wonderful gift at the end of a long and full day. We are feeling loved!!! As Paul said, “It makes you have hope for the world.” Thank you for your encouragement, dear friend … whoever you are!!!

You (whoever you are!) have no idea what you have meant to us!!!

On Sunday morning I had preached a sermon on John 21:1-19. In it, Jesus says to Simon Peter, having first asked him if he loved Jesus, “Feed my lambs. Tend my sheep. Feed my sheep.” I think Jesus is saying to Simon Peter, and to his disciples, and to us: “If you love me, then show it. Live it. Share it. Don’t deny me with your words and your actions. Show that you love me by how you live your life.”

My point was that we are called to make a difference in the lives of others and that very same night, someone did! I’m guessing they weren’t at Covenant Presbyterian Church in worship that morning. I’m guessing they didn’t go online to hear my sermon. But, my friends...

THERE ARE GOOD PEOPLE IN THE WORLD!

They’re all around us! I need to open my eyes (please join me and open your eyes too!) and see all of the goodness that surrounds us!!! I know that sometimes it is a dark and scary world. I’ve had my own dark and scary times this past week. But this person (whoever you are!) made a huge difference in my life, and in the life of my husband Paul. So thank you. Thank you, dear friend (whoever you are!) for making a difference in our lives.

Dear God, help me to do so for someone else. Amen.