Today, like every day, I found myself contemplating how I can change the world.
I think about it often – how life just isn’t fair, how people are hurting and hungry and sick.
I have this notepad where I write down all the little things that I can do to make the world a better place, both locally and globally…and I carry it around with me almost all day long.
My 2-year-old is used to this. She’ll often say, “here’s your nurse pad, mommy” (She means “note pad,” of course…but, for some reason, she always calls it a “nurse pad“).
I always tell her that I’m writing down ways to help all the kids in the world that don’t have clothes or food or mommies and daddies. And I can tell she’s starting to pick up on that message. She scampers over to me with one of her toys or books at least once a week and says, “this is for the other kids.” It’s the sweetest thing.
Sometimes, I get discouraged. I think to myself, “I could be the president of a non-profit. I could be in Africa or India or South America. I could be speaking about poverty and disease prevention…”
But, instead, I’m here.
Making smiliey faces for lunch:
Creating roads out of blocks:
Watching my two girls become the very best of friends:
And then I think: I AM changing the world. More importantly, I’m helping to create world-changers. I can see it when I look in their sweet faces, when my 2-year-old shares her things with “the other kids,” when my baby smiles.
Maybe one day, I’ll travel the country with my family with the sole purpose of helping others. Or, I’ll get that PhD that I’ve always dreamed about. Or, I’ll become a billionaire and create innovative solutions to pressing global problems.
But today?
Today, I’ll add to my list of world-changing ideas on my “nurse pad”:
- Send thank you note to so-and-so.
- Make dinner for ______.
- Remember _______’s birthday.
- Write to the little boy that we sponsor through World Vision.
- Pray.
The winner will also receive the 
