Motivation. It comes and goes as rapidly and randomly as a Colorado snow storm.
I love watching those inspiring television shows- You know, the ones with people doing things to impact the world. It leaves you feeling helpless and lazy as you sink further into your comfy couch and keep lifting that spoonful of chocolate ice cream to your mouth. Sure, I have legit reasons as to why I cannot impact the world in such amazing ways as those people do. I’m busy. I work 40 hours, do freelance on the side, cook, clean… clean… Ah, even if I did have time, I’m not fortunate enough. Those people have focused their entire lives on these causes and have enough money in the bank to do whatever they want. I have to look out for myself- Invest, add to my retirement fund, pay the bills… Those people can keep impacting the world. I’m just going to focus on my own life and make it as comfortable as I can…
Then I think a little about life and how very short it is. I know, you’ve heard this how many times before? The awe-infamous reappearing “If you died tomorrow-“ clause. The one that’s supposed to make you examine your life and live like “there’s no tomorrow!” Let’s get real- This outlook on life may last you a day… maybe two… for me? Half a day at best.
My pastor talked about change a while ago, and how you won’t change unless there’s a reason for change. For example, you say- I’m going on a diet! And your reason for going on a diet? I want to lose weight! (duh?) Well what about this: I’m going on a diet… because next year, I want to be able to climb Mount Everest. Hmmm, that’s kind of a cool goal. Or what about- I’m going to start reading the Bible everyday because next summer I want to be able to go on a mission trip and share the gospel right from my heart with someone who’s lost.
There’s reasons out there that inspire, that motivate, that push someone in life to do a little more than they’re doing now. I always think about things I can do here on earth that I won’t get a chance to do in heaven. There won’t be any poverty in heaven, no suffering, no pain, no lost… So with my life, let me impact those things now so that someday, I can enjoy all those little heavenly pleasures God has in store for me without looking back on life as a waste of some-odd years.
I suppose I've been contemplating this lately because of my notecards for orphans idea. I wanted to launch this idea back in March of this year- but it didn't happen. So I found an organization I'd like the proceeds to go to- Friends of Russian Orphans. I've contacted them and let them know when my products will be available. Now I've got some accountability, and motivation, and that pretty awesome goal I was talking about earlier. God is still going to have to grant me a good amount of time for this- but it'll happen. John and I have a heart for Russia, and the orphans, and if this helps in just a little way, it's all worth any time I can find.
My etsy shop, On Their Hearts, will be open sometime in March 2012 with a variety of Spring notecard stationary. 60% of what is made will go to the Friends of Russian Orphans organization.
Oh, and if you haven't already, meet Lenhle:
She's a vibrant four year old from Swaziland. Her mother has passed away, but thankfully her father is a believer, so he has stuck around to raise her. Hmm, one child. Do you know how many children in poverty there are in the world? How many don't have a single toy, clean water, a predictable meal? What does me and my husband sponsoring one child do?!
Well... it is one child. That one child matters to God- so she matters to us. (I didn't mean for this to be a Mission of Mercy advertisement, but you can sponsor a child just like Lenhle- Sponsor a Child)
Go find your motivation... and make a difference.
