One summer when money was pretttttttty tight, we played a bit of Roulette with our vacation. We had heard about a discount airline flew to a handful of cities. Having a tight budget, and still wanting to take the family away, we pulled up the airlines online, gathered the kids, and chose our vacation spot from their list! The choices were few: Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, Buffalo, N. Carolina, South Carolina. Nope, nope, nope, nope and nope! We had already been to the Carolinas, Texas was too hot, and no one was interested in Tennessee. And so it went… until we decided on Buffalo/Niagara Falls.
To be honest my husband and I weren’t exactly thrilled to go to Niagara Falls, but it was cheap and the kids were excited… WINNER!
That trip – our cheapie vacation – was chock full of the wonderful surprises and one of our favorites! We rented a house on Lake Erie, on the Canadian side of the falls which had a massive porch that looked upon what seemed to be a massive silent sea. As we sat on the porch, taking in the beauty of the lake, we noticed there were no boats and no swimmers – just birds and tourists. The shoreline was lined with boulders – a refreshing change from our sandy, smooth shoreline where we lived in south Florida. We scaled those boulders, rummaged amongst the rocks for treasure, and soaked in the beauty around us. It was like being in another world!
One of the boys’ favorite pursuits was the hunt for a flat rock among the boulders for rock-skipping contests. Without boats passing by, the lake was as placid as a pool. Ideal for skipping rocks! As the boys skipped their rocks, or attempted to, the water transformed from a mirror to a blur of wrinkled reflections. One rock, no matter how small, changed the entire canvas, environment, setting, surrounding as it hit the water.
The same is true of you.
Your actions have the same ripple effect on the environment around you. Like those flat pebbles on the placid lake. There is a ripple effect. Your choices affect those around you – one by one.
Did you ever watch the old movie “It’s a Wonderful Life?” If you haven’t seen it – you absolutely must!! In this Christmas classic, George Bailey, the main character reaches a point where he realizes all his efforts, along with the the dreams he gave up, to do the right thing have ended in utter failure. He is literally about to jump off a bridge to end his life – but an angel comes and shows him the effects that his life has had on the town George lives in. The angel takes George through time to show him what life would be like if he had never been born.
Imagine! What would life be like without you?! You have an enormous effect on the course of time. Your actions affect others, who affect others, and others….
And your dreams hold enormous opportunity – not just for you, but others.
Even the smallest person can change the course of history.”
– J.R.R. Tolkien
Just like the pebbles breaking the silence of the still waters – you do the same. Take that in. And consider that…. your dream, your goals, are worth pursuing. You are not just another life. This is not just another day. You have a purpose. This day holds opportunity.
If you can’t take a big step – take a small step. Every step matters.
They say that it takes 10,000 hours to master a skill. That’s overwhelming when you’re at the beginning of a goal, but did you ever think that those 10,000 hours have to start with a minute? One single minute. Don’t discount the value of investing one minute at a time for things that are important. One minute leads to five minutes. Five minutes leads to ten; ten minutes ends up being twenty and so on.
Every single time my son skipped a small flat stone along the surface of Lake Erie, it amazed me how broadly the waves stirred the water – far beyond what I believed was possible. The same is true with your small steps. One step in the right direction is a move that will draw you closer to your goal. Don’t discount it.
Don’t discount a small step in the right direction. If you’re not sure where to start this series will give you plenty of ideas. Doable action steps. It’s easy to read. Meat not fluff – so I don’t waste your time and you can use your time to pursue your goals!
If you missed last week’s post about the Value of Consistency, click here for the free printable to build a chain of X’s as you pursue your goal. It’s a simple, effective tool.
If you’d like to subscribe so you don’t miss The Small Steps series, fill out the form in the sidebar on the right. Have a great week!
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Annette Reich says
Char, your blog today is absolutely beautiful and one I desperately needed today and each day as I move forward, stepping out in obedience to answer the call God has placed on me. Thank you, thank you, thank you for your encouragement to so many.
Char says
Praying for you as you step out my friend!!
Michele Morin says
Awesome points, Char, and a Tolkien quote to boot!
Our family went to Niagra Falls and had a wonderful time — even though we made the mistake of being there on the Fourth of July! Wall to wall bodies! However, the joyous benefit from that was the amazing melting pot of cultures that had gathered there that day to experience the beauty and then to watch the fire works.
Great memory refreshed by your story!
Char says
We had a great time hiking on trails around the Falls too. It was beautiful all around
Jamie@TheMomGene says
First of all, nice job on the family vacation on a tight budget! Secondly, you are so very right–I think my attitude is the one that has the biggest ripple affect on our family. I see it in all the good and bad ways it pans out over the course of a day.
Char says
Me too! Over the years my friend and I have appointed a 24 hour period where we just encourage and uplift all day. Boy do things change all around us!
Laura Rath says
“Your actions have the same ripple effect on the environment around you…Your choices affect those around you – one by one.” Yes, yes, yes! What a great reminder! What we do and say matters, whether we realize it at the time of not.
Char says
It’s hard to realize the impact of our little choices, isn’t it?
Becky Hastings says
Amen for small steps! I forget their value when I’m looking across the sea of my dreams. But God sees every stone! Thanks for sharing today!
Char says
Every Stone! Thanks for stopping in Becky!
Debbie Putman says
These are excellent reminders of the importance of our actions and attitudes. It is too easy for me to focus only on myself and get discouraged when I don’t make the progress I expect quickly enough. Somewhere this week I read God’s timetable is eternal. So patience and enjoying the journey are good reminders.
Char says
The older I get, the more I believe it’s about the journey Debbie..
Melissa says
Char there were so many great points in the article! First, I love going on more simplistic trips that surround us in nature. It’s so much fun to explore the world through our children’s eyes and experience their wonder. Second, this year was the first time that my husband and I watched “It’s a Wonderful Life”. It was such an amazing movie and I can’t believe I had never watched it before. It’s so true how large of an impact even one person can have (positive or negative) on the people around them. This is a point I talk about with my clients who are suicidal. Thank you for such a great post!
Char says
We do have a large impact – which is very difficult to believe, but oh, so true!
Meghan Weyerbacher says
Char,
We too tend do life on a budget (tiiigght) lol, so I am grateful for this real view into family life.
Love all you gave us to ponder on here. I love the quotes, authors and wisdom. I am a learner at heart so this is full of things I want to apply in my own life. Blessings to you!
Char says
Thanks Meghan! Have a great week.
Joy says
Char, Thank you for the encouragement and the link up! Blessings!
Marilyn Lesniak says
Thank you for hosting. I linked my Creamy Dill Pickle Soup, Sautéed Zucchini, and a Crescent Roll Veggie Pizza. I hope you enjoy them! Have a happy week! #OverTheMoon #WWBlogHop #ThursdayFavoriteThings
Jerralea says
Char, loved this post! Especially your line, “Don’t discount a small step in the right direction,” resonated with me because I’ve distilled my 2018 goals down to two doable steps every day. I’m praying those are steps are not only in the right direction, but ripple out to my ultimate goal.
Char says
Simple is doable. not necessarily easy. We need doable goals! Good for you Jerralea!
Lureta says
Bigger doesn’t always mean better.
I pray that my small actions will have positive effects on those around me, all for the kingdom of God. Thanks for a great and encouraging post.
Char says
I am always encouraged by the thought that these great men and women had obscure parents that were instrumental in their development . Our role is very important no matter what it is.
Karen Woodall says
Goodness gracious! How much time do we spend lamenting over our insignificance never really realizing just how important our influence really is! If we could learn to get our eyes off ourselves and on to the assignment given to us by God, we’d really impact the world for the kingdom of God! thanks!
SUSAN SHIPE says
Oh to create ripples!
Donna Reidland says
My parents spent their honeymoon at Niagra Falls, but I have never been there. A couple of years ago one of our sons took his family and they, too, had a wonderful time. It made me want to go.
What a beautiful illustration about the impact each of us can have on the world around us. Thanks for sharing. This continues to be a great series.
Maree Dee says
Love this post! I just shared on FB. We always want big steps. I have to help others where all they can take is small steps. Many times it feels as if we have so far to go or as if no progress has been made. I found tracking where we are at and then looking back to see how far we have come is huge. You realize the small steps add up to some very progress.
Liz says
So glad I made my way here this morning. I’m working my way through Chase the Lion and just yesterday I read that sometimes achieving our own dreams is contingent upon other people chasing theirs. What may seem small to us or them could just be the critical piece to create a breakthrough. One small step with big impact. Blessings!
Char says
Thanks for stopping by Liz. I’ve seen that same thing in my life where my actions, or someone very close to me, affects another’s breakthrough.
Lyli @lylidunbar.com says
2 things:
1. We honeymooned in Niagara Falls. So beautiful!
2. This is the 2nd message on “ripple effect” that’s come across my view today, so my ears are now officially perked up. Thanks for the Holy Spirit nudge.
xo
Char says
We loved Niagara Falls – It’s an amazing site that everyone should see!! Oh my.. another message on the ripple effect – I’d love to read the other – always something to learn!