Have you heard the African proverb that says, “If you think you’re too small to make a difference, you haven’t spent a night with a mosquito”?
Or perhaps you recall the story of Mary Mallon, nicknamed Typhoid Mary. She was documented as the individual who caused the New York typhoid fever epidemic in 1906.
Then there’s the story of a little boy and a beach full of starfish:
One day, an old man walked along a beach littered with thousands of starfish washed ashore by the high tide. As he walked he came upon a young boy throwing the starfish back into the ocean, one by one.
Puzzled, the man looked at the boy and asked what he was doing. Without looking up, the boy simply replied, “I’m saving these starfish, sir.”
The old man chuckled. “Son, there are thousands of starfish and only one of you. What difference can you make?”
The boy picked up a starfish, gently tossed it into the water and turning to the man, said, “I made a difference to that one!”
What do all three of these have in common? The answer is the power of one.
Today, we’re experiencing another illustration of the power of one. One person can either spread or slow the spread of COVID-19 in their community. We’re hearing it again and again. People confident of their own health are willing to risk being infected rather than be inconvenienced. Those who take this position forget the power of one. They may be healthy, but who might they infect whose health is not as strong? You and I can each be the one who slows or stops the spread of this virus by maintaining physical distancing.
But the power of one is best exemplified in this final example, perhaps the most important illustration of all:
The Bible tells us, “Therefore as sin came into the world through one man and death through sin, so death has spread to all men, because all have sinned. … How much more has the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many” (Rom. 5:12, 15b).
The power of one brought sin. And the power of one brings the gift of grace, freedom from sin and reconciliation with our heavenly Father.
As you and I practice the power of one in our present environment, remember the power of one God provided for you and me in Jesus Christ. Remember the power of one that has eternal ramifications for us. And then communicate this eternal power of one to those who are frightened. They’re afraid of a virus, and they’re afraid of an uncertain future.
Share the power of one, just as someone else shared Him with you. {eoa}
Ava Pennington is a writer, speaker and Bible teacher. She writes for nationally circulated magazines and is published in 32 anthologies, including 25 “Chicken Soup for the Soul” books. She also authored Daily Reflections on the Names of God: A Devotional, endorsed by Kay Arthur. Learn more at avapennington.com.
This article originally appeared at avapennington.com.
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