A thought by Kyle Idleman, from his book, One at a Time (p. 185). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.)
Kyle continues, "At halftime (though I think they call it intermission), I stood up for the seventh-inning stretch (also pretty sure that’s the wrong term). The man sitting next to me also stood, and we struck up a conversation. He told me he was with his daughter, celebrating her graduation from high school. I told him we were out celebrating our ninth wedding anniversary. He asked if we had children. I told him we had three daughters, ages six, four, and three.
"He smiled, gestured to his teenage daughter, and said, 'I remember when she was six.'
"His tone was accepting and sweet. Then he asked me, very naturally and comfortably, 'Can I tell you what happened to me when she was six? It totally changed what kind of father I was.'
"I nodded yes.
"He said, 'Well, I worked constantly the first six years of my daughter’s life. I spent little time with her and wasn’t a very good father or husband. My marriage and family were in trouble. Then something happened—a friend of mine invited me to church. I know you’re thinking that church can be boring and irrelevant. I thought that too. I didn’t want to go at first, but he kept asking and I finally agreed. I’ve never thought too highly of organized religion. I still don’t. But I discovered a relationship with Jesus—and it changed my life. He was what I had been looking for. He totally changed my family. I’ve experienced so much joy as a father and husband. It was the best thing I ever did. I know we don’t know each other but . . . well, I just wanted to tell you how glad I am that I made that decision when my daughter was six. It has made all the difference.'"
Kyle then says, "I know I should’ve told him I was a Christian, but I was in shock. No stranger had ever shared their faith with me before. The show started back up, and we both sat back down. I realized I had tears in my eyes—not because of what was happening on the stage, but because of what just happened in the audience. Because the guy sitting next to me found the courage to have a conversation to try to help someone else understand who Jesus is and what he could do in their life."
Now that is the way to make a difference one at a time, isn't it? Yes, yes!
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