Then those ‘sheep’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?’ Then the King will say, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.’ Matthew 25:37-40 (TM)

Many years ago I went on short missionary journey to a remote area of the Philippines. My interpreter for the week was a joyful man named Victorino. We sweat together in the tropical heat as we shared God’s message with the people of that area. Victorino had five daughters at home, and all of them were named "Lilly". In the course of our time togther, I began to learn about Victorino and his personal circumstances. He lived in poor area of the islands. While educted and hard-working, Victorino struggled to make just enough money to feed his large family. He shared the burden he felt to give his daughters a good education so they could rise out of their poverty and make a good living. There was no public education, so he would have to try and find a way to pay for private school.

Making some inquiries, I learned that it would cost ten U.S. dollars a month to send his daughters to private school. That was it. The money it would cost me to take my family to McDonalds for burgers and fries would pay the private school tuition for Vic’s daughters. It was a no brainer. I began sending a monthly $10 check as soon as I returned home.

As I read the parable of the sheep and the goats, it strikes me how easy it is to make a difference in someone’s life. Through groups like Compassion International, you can have an eternal impact on someone else’s life. We are personally sponsoring a sweet girl who lives in Africa.

It’s so easy to make a difference. As my daughter often says, "Be part of something bigger than yourself."