Are You Making An Impact?

My friend Erin asked me a question this weekend that made me think.
And the question goes something like this:

Q: "Do you think your actions have an impact on other peoples lives?"

My Answer: "I'd like to think so. But I don't think so."

I would like to think that my actions / my life has an impact on other people's lives - especially a positive impact.
But who am I to say, 'yes I made an impact in that person's life?'
How would I know that I've made a difference in that person's life?
How can you be sure? Would I be cocky if I'd said, 'of course my actions make an impact in other people's lives!' ?

Crazy thing is... God works in some AMAZING ways!

My friend (let's call her Liisa) called me tonight - barely audible on the phone.
I ask her, hey what's goin' on? I don't know, she says. (still barely audible) I don't know what's happening.
Is everything alright? I... don't know. (uh-oh. is she crying?)
Are you home? Yeah. Well, not really. I'm sitting in my car. (she's definitely not not-crying)

Over 40 minutes of conversation that we had, she had conveyed to me how much it meant to her to have the community that she has. And she wants made known to those who have made her feel so wanted and loved in that community of friends, how much she values them.
But she didn't know who to call. She has a ton of friends. Family. But just didn't know who to call.
But me. She knew in her heart, she had to call me.

Through our conversation she had told me how much she appreciates me for doing all that I do. And that she knew I'd be the only person that she wanted to call tonight.

Through our conversation I began to see how God had answered the question that I'd been holding in my heart throughout this weekend - perhaps even much longer.
Through her God has shown me that my actions do not go unseen, and my actions do have an impact on others' lives.
God had surfaced the insecurity that's been in my heart through a question-game.
And He had made me really soak in on that question for a while.
And shown me a little gimpse of what my life means to others - where I fit-in in grand scheme of things.

My actions do make an impact!
And through that realization, God had made clear that Liisa's actions have a huge impact on my life as well.

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on a separete note:
Over the phone we prayed for each other. It was my idea, I think. Well, not entirely.
But when it came my turn to pray, I totally blanked out!
I totally forgot all that I was going to pray for us! AWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!

I need a lesson in public praying.
Is there such a course?
Well, there should be.