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Things I Learned from Michael Jackson: #10 One in Service, Celebrating Michael / Happy Birthday, Michael!

♥ ♥ ♥ Oh, beautiful Michael, we love you! May this love light your heart like a million suns, May it shower you in the sweetest of bliss, Yet even so, it could never express one billionth of our thankfulness! God bless you, today and forever, dear Michael. With love and joy we celebrate YOU on this 29th day of August, your blessed birthday. You are always in our hearts and in our souls. Thank you for everything! With all our love, for all time ~ L♥VE


One in Service, Celebrating Michael by Diana Foley
(Things I Learned from Michael Jackson:
#10 "One Person Makes a Difference
")

In thinking about service to our fellow humans, the idea is so incredibly overwhelming, it’s easy to feel immobilized. The world is so big and there are so many needs to be met. I am reminded of the Peanuts comic strip in which one of the characters remarks, “I love Mankind…it’s People I can’t stand!” It’s easy to think about “service” in the abstract, but it’s more difficult (and the needs are so vast) to think concretely about what I can do in the here and now. Where and how does one start?

I love the story of the Starfish: it is probably familiar to most of you, but I think it bears repeating. (original story by Loren Eisley):
One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed a boy picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean. Approaching the boy, he asked, “What are you doing?” The boy replied, “Throwing starfish back into the ocean. The surf is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them back, they will die.”

“Son,” the man said, “don’t you know there are miles and miles of beach, and hundreds of starfish? You can’t make a difference.”

After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish, and threw it back into the ocean. Then, smiling at the man, he said, “I made a difference for that one!”
What can one person do? I recall a sermon I heard years ago. Relying on VERY long term memory (and with undying respect for Rev. Jenny Warren), it went something like this: Noah saved all the animals and his family from being lost in the great flood. Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt. Abraham listened to God and became the father of a great nation. Esther saved her people from extinction by using her influence with the King.

Think of each of these people, who was “ONLY ONE PERSON” before you bemoan the fact that there is little one person can do.

Each of us is “only one person.” Michael was “only one person.” Yes, I know the comparison doesn’t seem fair on the surface. But, suppose he had been overcome with the idea of “I’m only one person?” Think hard about that, and you will realize what the world might have never known.

I believe that each of us comes to this life with our own 'marching orders'. “There are many gifts, but one Spirit that gives them.” (I Corinth. 12:4). We are not here by accident. Each of us has our own role to play in this Dance of Life, each of us has our own unique contributions to make for the betterment of the world. My prayer for each of us, is that we find (or expand) what we are supposed to do, and do it with gusto. That, I believe, is the real celebration that Michael would want. ~ Diana, in Call For Love, Aug 28, 2011 (thank you, Diana, for allowing us to post here too :)

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15 COMMENTS:

Anonymous said...

LOVE it!

I am only one person ---- but i AM one person. What i CAN do, I must.

BeGodsGlow said...

I just ran across this poem online and it made me think of Michael immediately. So, dear Michael, on your birthday, here's another something I dedicate to you, my forever Love:

The Child In Him

I loved the child in him
so innocent and sweet
The mischief in his eyes
the blush upon his cheek
The tender way he spoke
that showed me that he cared
The touch of his warm hand
that gently touched my hair
The smiles that we shared
that filled my life with glee
For when I was with him
I found the child in me

~ Jean Gabor

MJEverAfter said...

Yes Diana, the best gift we can give to Michael for his birthday is to to our part to make his dreams come true.
Thank you for this.

BeGodsGlow said...

Happy Birthday, Michael!

Tonight on MTV's VMA's the official award title was back to:
"MICHAEL JACKSON VIDEO VANGUARD AWARD"!!!!!

YESSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)))))

BeGodsGlow said...

And there were many other ways MJ fans have commemorated Michael Jackson's birthday, such as:

♥ ONE ROSE FOR MICHAEL http://www.facebook.com/groups/112633555419436?view=doc&amp%3Bid=253874951295295 is raising funds for UNICEF for Michael's birthday. Your $2 donation, sent in Michael's name, pays for a child's vaccination against tetanus, measles and polio. *To donate, read instructions here: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=188756531171656

♥ HEAL THE WORLD FOR CHILDREN http://www.healtheworldforchildren.org/ is again holding festivals in cities around the world for Michael's birthday on August 29. A $20 donation will also enter you into a drawing for an autograph Michael signed in 2009. Please see their FB page for details! http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=230868736945403

♥ MICHAEL JACKSON BIRTHDAY CHARITY http://www.facebook.com/mjbirthdaycharity is a fan group that is organizing for everyone to donate to Orphan's Lifeline of Hope International in honor of Michael. See http://mjbirthdaycharity.blogspot.com/ for donation instructions.

♥ A MILLION TREES FOR MICHAEL http://www.facebook.com/amilliontreesformichael asks us all to donate via American Forests. Over 20,000 trees have been planted through them in Michael's name already! Please be sure to read the details http://www.facebook.com/amilliontreesformichael?sk=app_4949752878 to make sure the donation is credited appropriately.

♥ 2300 MAKE A PACT http://www.facebook.com/2300makeapact recently collected donations for the Dresses from Neverland campaign, that is providing dresses to girls affected by the tornado outbreak in the US earlier this summer. The latest project is to send a child to the Michael Jackson Immortal Tour Cirque du Soleil show via Make A Wish!

one of Michael's millions of fans said...

I love the intial poem about the million suns. Thank you!

And I love Diana's essay about being only "one person". I thought that about Michael so often and all the wonders he created. And Diana has put that into a really great writing. Thank you! :-)

Happy birthday, Michael! May you feel very, very good always. And today a little more. <3

Kerry Hennigan said...

I totally support the MJ fan communities collective and individual efforts to continue Michael's work to Heal the World. The children, the animals, the planet - ALL of us stand to benefit from this, his most wonderful legacy of all. We love you MORE, Michael (and we'll love you ALWAYS!)

BeGodsGlow said...

Totally, Kerry! 100% agree. Thank you, MJ-family! Love you all!

Anonymous said...

I always enjoy reading the posts of majorloveprayer.It makes me happy and brings joy to my heart.It encourages me to do things and I always realize that there is so much love out there

BeGodsGlow said...

^ Oh, that's so wonderful to hear :) You're very welcome and thank you for being here with us all! ♥ ♥ ♥

Unknown said...

dear Michael with love and joy we celebrate u on this special day your blessed birthday wishes and you are always in our hearts and in our souls. Thank you for everythinh

Unknown said...

Many many Happy Birthday wishes to you bro
where ever you are we will never forget you sir!

Unknown said...

Dear Michael you are always in our heart have Beautiful birthday wishes from my side.
Will never forget you.

Unknown said...

Micheal i m big fans you i like your songs and break dance so many many Happy Birthday Wishes to you

Unknown said...

excellent birthday wishes for loving friends

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