As a business teacher for 32 years, one of my personal goals each day I went into the classroom was to “Make A Difference.”

In today’s email, I received this poem and would like to share with all:

MAKE A DIFFERENCE
by Debbie Preuss

Lord, help me make a difference
In someone’s life today.
May I always be alert
As I go on my way.
May I reach out in love
To point the way to you;
Showing Your direction
When this life is like a zoo.
May fear never be a reason
For me to shrink away.
May I always feel free
To say “come on let’s pray.”
May I be a beacon
Shining brightly in the night;
Radiating joy and mercy,
Shining forth Your light.
May I always be alert
As I go on my way.
Lord, help me make a difference
In someone’s life today.

We might not ever know the “difference” we made in someone’s life, and many times it might happen with just an expression or one word.

STAN night — it was Ann’s pick. Spaghetti Warehouse was our destination because she had a birthday letter from them worth a nice meal. Our SW is located downtown — where parking is a premium even on a Monday evening. There are several nice restaurants in the same area and most of those offer valet parking. Across the street from and in back of SW are two parking lots, but each one had a well-made sign: “Parking $5.00.” We lucked out just a block away at a parking meter — free after 5:00 pm. Now, this empty space was on the far left of a one-way street, and we were on the far right lane as we passed it by. Nick spotted it and “spoke” to our driver, Ann, about grabbing that one! So, Ann scooted over to the far left lane, but by this time we were about 5-6 parking spaces past the empty one. No worry, Ann CAN put that minivan in reverse as good as any soccer mom. We only had to stop once when a car coming up behind us in the far left lane interferred with our bi-directional vehicle. That driver finally went around us — think we may have received a kind gesture from him. Ann parallel parked us and we were only a block from good food — closer if we walked through an alley, which we did. Our noses later told us that was a mistake — but it was a safe shortcut, and it was daylight. SW was very good tonight, and our waiter even entertained us with some “contact juggling” — first with the empty Sangria wine bottle at our table and second with a small crystal ball. He was quite good. We all agreed that our walk back to the car would be around the block, the long way home. What pleased us the most as we left the restaurant were all of the rain puddles and the sprinkles still coming down upon us — such a blessing to have rain here in August!