You Matter More Than You Think
“As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset.” Exodus 17:11-12
Whoever is reading this, be encouraged because you’re doing better than you think you are and you matter more than you think you do. There’s an amazing scripture in Isaiah 41:5-6 that says, “They help each other and say to their companions, ‘Be strong!’ The metalworker encourages the goldsmith, and the one who smooths with the hammer spurs on the one who strikes the anvil. One says of the welding, ‘It is good.’ The other nails down the idol so it will not totter.”
This scripture is full of encouragement! Everyone is encouraging each other and making everyone feel like they matter. The verse says they didn’t want it to “totter.” The word totter means to wobble, stagger, or fall down. God doesn’t want you to be staggering and wobbling. He wants you to be able to stand strong.
If you are a parent, you matter more than you think you do. Sometimes we get so discouraged trying to hold our family together. And you sometimes may feel like you are not making a difference. But what you do matters. Who you are matters. Your example, love, and sacrifices make such a difference in their lives.
There is a great story of Neil Armstrong, the first man who ever stepped on the moon. When he put his foot on the moon it was an amazing accomplishment. And he said, “It’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” And then he added these words, “Goodnight, and good luck, Mr. Gorsky!” To understand that statement, you have to go back to his childhood. Armstrong lived by the house of a family called the Gorskys. They had no children, and the man was kind to Neil Armstrong and his brother. They would come over and he would play ball with them and teach them how to build things like rockets and kites. But his wife hated kids, and particularly she hated Neil. One day Armstrong went up to the window of the house and heard the couple talking. Mr. Gorsky was saying to his wife, “Honey, I just want us to make up. I need a little loving. You’ve been mad for so long. Please, honey, will you forgive me?” Still mad, she stood up and said, “When that stupid Armstrong kid takes a walk on the moon, I’ll give you all the loving you want.” So when Armstrong stepped on the moon 25 years later, he said, “It’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind. Good night, and good luck, Mr. Gorsky.”
You don’t know the potential that people have inside of them. Who would have thought that little kid next door would go so high that he’d put his foot on the moon? You don’t know what you’re holding in that little baby in your arms. Never underestimate the impact that you have on those in your world.
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