Making A Difference -- (MM13_074)

Quote of the day:

“Someone's sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.” — Warren Buffet

Reflection:

This quote jogged my memory about a story that always encourages me about how even one person can do a lot to change the world no matter how bad things look at the time.

In 1923, a young man was on a walking tour in France. The area was barren and desolate of trees. There was little farming being done because of the lands poor condition. The villages were rundown and many of the people had deserted the countryside because of the situation. The young traveler ended up staying at the cottage of an old shepherd. He observed that the shepherd was spending his evening hours sorting nuts. Once sorted, the shepherd would put them in a knapsack, and as he led his sheep to graze the next day he would plant the nuts along the way. The young visitor said to the shepherd, "It will be years before these trees ever get to where they could do you any good! You might not even live long enough to see them grow!" But the shepherd replied, "Yes, but some day they'll do somebody some good and they'll help to restore this dry land." Twenty years later when the young hiker returned  to the area he was astounded at the change. It was now covered with a beautiful natural forest of all kinds of trees! Grass, shrubbery, bushes and berries were flourishing, and the wildlife had returned. The soil was moist and the farmers were cultivating the land  once more. The efforts of one man brought an entire region back to life again, restoring its economy, its wildlife, its agriculture, its water, its soil, and even its population--all because of the foresight, diligence, patience, sacrifice, and faithfulness just to do what one man could do, day by day.

So if sometimes you're discouraged with the way the world is, don't give up! Reflect on this lesson from the shepherd. One man made a  big difference, and so can you.