Here are five ways to make a difference with your life this summer. First of all, summer is the perfect time to enjoy the blush of a couple surprised by an instant date in Central Park, complete with a fancy dinner and a concert with Carnegie Hall musicians.

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OK, so you may not have a fancy dinner or musicians from Carnegie Hall to surprise two strangers with, but what can you do to make a difference in someone’s life?

Live your life on purpose! Use your imagination. Gather some friends together. Plan a mini event that will minister validation and joy to someone.

Here are four more ideas to make a difference with your life

1. Visit a senior care facility and play cards with some of the residents.

2. Buy a simple lunch at a local deli and take a co-worker on a picnic during your lunch hour.

3. Gather some musician friends together and go play some music for a neighbor that needs to know somebody cares.

4. Invite some neighborhood kids to Vacation Bible School at your church.

Whatever you do, make it fun and a surprise for the recipient. You’ll be smiling the whole rest of the week.

What simple idea have you done to make a difference in someone’s life? Please share it in the comment section below.

“Jesus likes it when we share.” -Adelaide, age 3: Pass this along to everybody and their brother. OK, maybe not everybody’s brother, but you know . . . all of your friends would be nice.