A few day ago, my wife and I attended a music performance at the Vern Riffe Center for the Arts at Shawnee State University in Portsmouth, Ohio and were delightfully entertained by the "Oak Ridge Boys." One of the songs they sang caught my attention. It was titled: Did I Make A Difference?

Here is the lyrics to: "Did I Make A Difference?"

"I'm caught up in the push and shove, The daily grind, burning time, spinning wheels, I wonder what I'm doing here. Day to day, year to year, standing still,
Somewhere there's a teacher with a heart that never quits, Staying after school to help some inner city kids, A mother who's a volunteer, a soldier in the fight, I can't help but ask myself when I lay down at night.

Did I make a difference in somebody's life? What hurts did I heal? What wrongs did I right?
Did I raise my voice in defense of the truth? Did I lend my hand to the destitute?

When my race is run, when my song is sung, Will I have to wonder, did I make a difference? Did I make a difference?

I've been working hard to make a living, And forgetting what true living is, Taking more than giving, something's missing, Lord, how long can I go on like this?

There's a lonely old man down the street, And I should be ashamed, I've never been to see him, I don't even know his name. There's kids without their supper in my own neighborhood,
Will I look back someday and say that I did all I could?

Did I make a difference in somebody's life? What hurts did I heal? What wrongs did I right?
Did I raise my voice in defense of the truth? Did I lend my hand to the destitute?

When my race is run, when my song is sung, Will I have to wonder, did I make a difference? Did I make a difference?

When my race is run, when my song is sung, Will I have to wonder, did I make a difference? Did I make a difference? When my race is run, when my song is sung, Will I have to wonder, did I make a difference? Did I make a difference? Did I make a difference?"

Songwriters: Bill Anderson, Rob Crosby

Let’s ponder the idea of: Did I Make A Difference?

Being kind. Using kind words to one another. A soft answer turns away wrath (Proverbs 15:1).

Not losing my temper. Things are said when you lose your temper that shouldn’t be said. If this happens and you offend someone then you should apologize.

Did I start a conversation with a lonely person?.

Did I send a thank-you card or a word of encouragement? Sending a Get-Well card to a shut-in or someone in the hospital?

Did I make a difference when someone died that I knew? Did I go to the funeral home and give the family a little support? You don’t have to say a lot, it is the fact that you cared to go and share a small amount of time with those who are grieving.

Did I pray for other people? Small prayers are like incense going up to God (Revelation 5:8). We are to pray for one another, that we may be healed (James 5:16).

Did I make a difference at home? Did I promote peace in the family by refraining from yelling from one end of the house to the other? God is not the author of confusion. (1 Corinthians 14:33).

Did I make a difference with my wife, doing things together, by helping around the house with the chores? Did I spend time with my children? Teaching them about God and His Son Jesus? (Proverbs 22:6). Did I tell my family that I love them?

Can God trust me in the little things? The Bible teaches that the Christian who cannot be trusted with small things can never be trusted with big things. "He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much" (Luke 16:10).

Did I make a difference on my job as an employee? We need to think that we are working for God and not for men. Don't be late. Did I put in a good eight hours work for an eight-hour pay?

In Conclusion: Did I make a difference? This is a good question to ponder. Hopefully we can answer this question with "Yes," and it starts with putting God first in our lives, starting with repentance and keeping all of God’s Commandments, Statutes and Laws." You need to be the best you that you can be.

Yes, You can make a Difference!