You have a purpose!

You Have A Purpose

Written By Michelle Edwards

This story was inspired by advice that my Grandma used to give me when I was a teenager and struggling with what my purpose was. I carry this advice with me every day!! This story will someday have illustrations, but right now I feel the urge to share this story.

Milo was sitting silently deep in thought when his Grandma walked out, sat down next to him, and placed a lemonade down next to him. 

“Penny for your thoughts?” asked his Grandma looking at him as if she wanted him to tell all his secrets.   She always had the best advice so he thought he would tell her.  

“I’m too young and have no purpose in this world, I can’t do anything.” the words sprung out of him as if he didn’t have a choice.  It was like she was pulling the words out of his heart.  

“What?” his Grandma asked with shock in her voice.  

“I’m too young to go on rides, I’m too young to watch certain movies, I can’t help anyone because I can barely reach the kitchen counter. I can’t drive yet, I can’t do anything! I feel like I have no purpose!” exclaimed Milo with tears in his eyes.  

“Look at me Milo,” Grandma said with seriousness in her voice.  I looked straight up at her, and she asked “Do you have breath in your lungs?” 

“Yes, I’m breathing,” answered Milo wondering why his Grandma would ask such a silly question.  

“Then you were created for just this time.  God needs you here and in this moment.  Even though you feel like you have no purpose, God is using you.  It doesn’t matter your age or your size, God is using you today and will continue using you until you have no more breath left in you. Don’t ever forget that Milo.” 

Milo continued to look at her in awe at the words she told him and simply asked, “How?”

“That’s up to you.  You get to choose every day how you want to use your purpose and how you can make today better. For instance, your Mom needs help cleaning up the living room. Do you think that is something you could do?” she asked

“It is!” exclaimed Milo excited to do something helpful. He quickly ran into the living room to help his Mom.  

The next day Milo was at school when he saw an older boy looking sad sitting on a bench at recess.  He walked over to him and asked, “Why do you look so sad, Benjamin?”  

The boy looked at him shocked and said, “I feel so alone and like I have no purpose.”

Milo looked at him shocked and said, “Do you have breath in your lungs?”

“Yes, of course,” answered the boy. 

“Then you were created for just this time.  God needs you here and in this moment.  Even though you feel like you have no purpose, God is using you.  God is using you today and will continue using you until you have no breath left in you. Don’t ever forget that!”  said Milo as he looked into the sad boy's eyes. 

“Thank you,” the boy said with tears in his eyes, “I needed to hear that today.”

“Now go use your purpose today by helping someone else, that helped me feel better yesterday.” 

“That’s a good idea, I will go see if my friend needs help in math class, I know he is struggling.”  said the boy as he got up with a brighter look in his eye.  

Two weeks later Benjamin was sitting on a bench reading a book while his mom and little brother were playing at the park when a guy in doctor scrubs sat down next to him with a heavy sigh.  Benjamin looked at him and could tell this guy was having a bad day so he asked, “Why do you look so sad, Doc?”  

The doctor looked at him surprised that a kid asked him a question and then said, “I had a really bad day at work and felt like I lost my purpose or wondering if I even have one.”  

Benjamin looked at him straight in the eyes and asked, “Do you have breath in your lungs?” 

The doctor chuckled at the question and said, “Of course I do.”

“Then you were created for just this time.  God needs you here and in this moment.  Even though you feel like you have no purpose, God is using you.  God is using you today and will continue using you until you have no breath left in you. Don’t ever forget that!” 

With tears in the doctor’s eyes, he said, “Thank you, I really needed to hear that.”

“You’re welcome, now go use your purpose today by helping someone else, that helped me feel better two weeks ago when I was feeling the exact same way.”  

“That’s great advice, I think I will go grab coffees for the nurses that helped me today.” 

A month later, the doctor was standing next to Milo’s Grandma checking her blood pressure.  He could tell she was sad so he asked her, “Why do you look so sad today?”  

“I’m just feeling really old today and feeling like I have no purpose.  Life is moving all around me and yet, I’m moving slowly in this old body.”  answered his Grandma

He looked her straight in the eyes and asked her, “Do you have breath in your lungs?”  

She looked at him shocked and remembered the advice she gave her grandson and said, “Yes, I am breathing.”  

“Then you were created for just this time.  God needs you here and in this moment.  Even though you feel like you have no purpose, God is using you.  It doesn’t matter your age.  God is using you today and will continue using you until you have no breath left in you. Don’t ever forget that!” 

Milo’s Grandma started laughing and said, “I just told that to my grandson a while back when he was feeling this way, thank you so much for reminding me.”  

“You’re welcome, now go use your purpose today by helping someone else, that helped me feel better a month ago when I was feeling the exact same way.”  

“That’s great advice, I think I will see if my daughter needs help around the house today.”  

This page will show all of them smiling

You never know how your purpose will change someone’s day!  Remember you were created for just this time.  God needs you here and in this moment.  Even though you feel like you have no purpose, God is using you.  God is using you today and will continue using you until you have no breath left in you. Don’t ever forget that!” 

The End

Always Smile,

Michelle