Sometimes, it's just a word, a smile, or a gift that can change a person's day, week or maybe even a life!
There was a fellow living many years ago on Skid Row, completely down and out and living on what he could beg, borrow or steal along "The Row," as the residents called it.
One Christmas Eve, he found a dollar bill, which in our time would be nothing, but in his time, it was like a small fortune.
He thought about what he would do with it for quite some time. Finally, he decided to treat his fellow tramps along the waterfront to an extra drink to celebrate Christmas.
Along the route to the liquor store, he saw a baseball bat in the window of a sports shop. A haunting memory of how much he wanted a bat like that when he was a boy burned in his heart like fire. He rushed into the store and bought the bat with his dollar bill, went down the street and left it propped up against the door of an orphanage. He looked around, rang the bell and ran.
The next morning, the bat was given to a homely, awkward little orphan who loved to play ball but had never had a bat of his own until that Christmas morning. The boy cherished the gift.
It was his best Christmas ever. You may know him by the name he used when he became the home run king in major league baseball — Babe Ruth.
Some say it was that vagrant's best Christmas too.
Sometimes it only takes a small effort to make a difference in someone else's life.
Be the kind of person who doesn’t just make a point in somebody’s life; make a difference.
Over 2,000 years ago, God made the difference by sending His only Son, Jesus to this old world as a prophesied baby born in a manger to a young couple.
This baby would grow up to be a man, say things no one had ever said before - no one can ever improve on His teaching - and do things no one had ever done before, including rising from the grave just as He predicted, making appearances to hundreds of His followers, and thus changing the world.
He is the Greatest Difference Maker Ever, and that’s what we celebrate at Christmas.
Merry Christmas, everyone! Now, go and make a difference.
