There isn't time to love absolutely everyone, to change the whole wide world.
There are so many places to volunteer, so many causes to champion, so many people who need a shoulder to cry on or a listening ear or a five dollar bill.
I wish with all my heart that I could be on a million different non-profit boards, that I could volunteer at the food bank and the soup kitchen every single week, that I could send over hugs and cupcakes to every mom in my city.
But you know what? "Jesus said love one another. He didn't say love the whole world." That is a quote from Mother Teresa and she was a person who understood compassion deeply. I don't think she meant that God doesn't want us to love the whole world (He does), but I think she was bringing it down to the strategy level...telling us HOW to love the world. One person at a time.
She also said, "Love begins by taking care of the closest ones - the ones at home." I think she said that because it takes a lot of work and sacrifice to extend love and grace to your spouse and your kids every day. And yet...that is the most important thing. Love begins at home...and then expands further to envelope other people in our circle of influence.
I say that I want to change the world a lot...and I mean it. I have grand dreams for doing big, big things. But, in my heart of hearts, I know that it has to start right here - in my every day. With my closest ones.