August 2015

After years of being a stay-at-home mom I went to work part-time with an ad specialty company. I was on board from the infant stages working from the basement of our owner’s home. I showed up ready to work on my first day but completely unaware what a promotional business was even about. I was so uncomfortable in my new role I asked the owner to leave the room so I could get enough courage to make phone calls to our vendors. We quickly outgrew our basement space and purchased a building with a warehouse as our team continued to grow.

My role as a mother naturally transitioned over the years as our daughter married and our son took off for college. With those changes, after 10 years working part-time, I took on the full-time role as Executive Vice President. I used to tell our owner, “You couldn’t pay me enough to take that position.” One day, she wrote a dollar amount on a Post It® note and stuck in on my desk as she walked by. “That’s starting to look pretty good!” At the end of June 2015 I finished my first year in my new position and the month of June was a record month and we finished the year with the highest sales in the history of the company!

I must admit I am quite proud of these accomplishments and would even delight for you to join me in my pride. When I step back and look at the year as a whole I am reminded how deeply I leaned heavily upon my Savior’s strength, wisdom and guidance; each morning I made the commute praying over our company, owner, team, customers, vendors and my own lacking abilities. How many times I begged Him to give me His heart toward the team I lead. How many days I made my way home so exhausted from the tasks I could hardly think straight; at times tears streaming down my face as I pled: “Lord, why does it have to be so hard! Are you sure this is what You would have of me?”

He often puts us in positions that are greater than our own abilities, gifts and strengths. Those are the times we need Him most and His strength is made perfect in our weakness. Therefore we can boast in our infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon us. For when we are weak, then we are strong. His grace continues to be sufficient! My pride is in my Savior!

If you are completely comfortable with your own abilities and strength in your current positions of life, perhaps you are not being challenged enough. When you are stretched beyond yourself there is little room for self-pride as we become aware of our great need of a Savior! He’s such an impressive Savior! I’m so proud of Him!

Image courtesy of “woman taking notes” by marin/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

A man in his large pickup truck pulled out in front of me, slammed on his brakes, and fled from his vehicle to aggressively pursue a jogger. Apparently they had exchanged a few words and this guy was hot! The athlete was wise in continuing his run without stopping for further conflict. Wow, talk about road rage. You don’t have to look hard to be an eyewitness to such events.

As I commute to and from work on New Circle road I continually get cut off by oncoming vehicles. There is an obvious lack of knowledge and skill on what it means to YIELD and MERGE into the flow of existing ongoing traffic. I can’t help but consider the similar attitude some apply to life. “I’ll live my life with no regard to how my behaviors affect the flow of your life.” “It’s your responsibility to stay out of my way.” Careless living with no regard to others is not only selfish but unwise.

James 3:17New King James Version (NKJV)

¹⁷But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. (Emphasis added)

If we want to be skilled in the art of wise living we must be willing to yield; Wisdom from above is willing to yield! What does that even mean?

“The original term [willing to yield] described someone who was teachable, compliant, easily persuaded, and who willingly submitted to military discipline or moral and legal standards. For believers, it defines obedience to God’s standards.”₁

There is wisdom in yielding to God’s standards rather than driving by our own rules. Christ gave His life that we could live. He yielded His own rights for the sake of others. Are you living life completely oblivious to those who are around you or are you considerate and willing to yield? Are you willing to yield both on the roads and in life?

Photo: “Man Behind A Window” by graur razvan ionut/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

₁John MacArthur Study Bible; commentary on page 1931

Month: August 2015

Stay-At-Home Mom Gone Executive Vice President

Get Out of My Way!

James 3:17New King James Version (NKJV)

¹⁷But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. (Emphasis added)

James 3:17New King James Version (NKJV)

17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. (Emphasis added)

¹⁷But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. (Emphasis added)