At the End of the Day, It’s About Making a Difference for Others

By Marc C. Whitt

Over the past couple of years, Jennifer and I — along with our children, including our children-by-marriage — have spent many days since Mom’s passing in April 2024 dividing up furnishings she and Dad added to their home along the way in their nearly 60 years of marriage.

Each of our homes is now graced by their presence — not as memorials, but as representations of family love, unity through both good and tough times, strength, and treasured memories. These pieces tell a story — a story of how the baton passes from one generation to the next, tying us together through shared love and legacy.

Of course, not every piece could be kept. Some now grace the homes of other families we’ll never know — and I like to think those items are continuing to serve others, just as Mom and Dad would have wanted.

But there’s one thing that still resides in my car’s trunk: plaques. Plaques my parents and brother — all now embracing their faith that is now Sight — received through the years. Achievements and honors that once represented proud moments now sit quietly in a box, waiting for me to decide what to do with them.

It’s funny how perspective shifts over time. Those plaques, once displayed with pride, are, at their core, pieces of wood with a few kind words recognizing a moment in time.

That realization hit me again recently when Jennifer and I had our house painted for the first time since its construction 25 years ago. As we cleared rooms and walls, I noticed the plaques in my home office — recognitions marking milestones from my own career — now resting in a cardboard box.

I doubt I’ll put them back up. We’re at a stage where we want to simplify, to downsize, and to make space for what really matters.

I’ve reflected on this quite a bit in recent months. You see, a full, productive life isn’t about the plaques or the titles or the applause along the way — though those moments are appreciated. It’s about something far greater. It’s about making life better for others.

It’s about serving people, seeing to their needs, and showing them Christ through your daily words, actions, and deeds — even when no one notices, even when the work is done quietly, behind the scenes.

Jesus reminded us in Matthew 6:19–21:

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven… For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Age is a funny thing. The things that once seemed so important tend to fade, replaced by God’s true treasures — unconditional love, sacrifice, time spent together, and the memories we make with those we love.

My now three books represent that same spirit — my love for a profession that has given me so much, my gratitude for those who have sacrificed for me along the way, and my encouragement for young professionals just starting out. They’re also gentle reminders for mid-career and senior professionals that our time to mentor is not just valuable — it’s essential.

Nothing more. Nothing less.

Writing these books was never about ego or recognition. It was a quiet, persistent voice inside of me — God’s Spirit — encouraging me to share what I’ve learned, in hopes that my words might fall on receptive ears and inspire others to make a difference through their own words, actions, and deeds.

At the end of the day, the plaques and recognitions are nice — they’re special, and they represent seasons of hard work and purpose. But they aren’t the measure of a life well-lived.

The greatest gift we can ever give is ourselves — our love, our time, our compassion, and our willingness to make life better for someone else.

That’s what truly matters.