I’m not very good at drawing.

For my fifth grader, time together and alone is the greatest of joys.  

Last night I had been reading my book quietly on the couch.  After a long day I wanted the hours to melt off me and go elsewhere in those pages.  Within a few lines of my read my youngest son walked up with a stack of scrap paper and a large library book asking if I would draw figures from the book with him.  I’m not very good at drawing but we sat poured over paper and pencils in multiple attempts.

This morning as we talked in the few minutes we share before he heads off to school I asked if the drawing book needed to go back to school.  He nodded and gave me something unexpected.  It was more than the hug and sweet whisper; it was what he said.

“Thanks for drawing with me last night,” smiled Kaden

“I don’t know I am the best person to draw with you, Sweetie.  Mommy isn’t very good at that.”

“You are the best person to draw with me.  I know that no matter how I draw you will never make fun of me and still love me.”  These were warm heartfelt true words from my sweet boy. 

I almost crushed him I squeezed him so tight!  It would be my deepest wish that he would always feel that secure in my adoration and respect for him.  I’m not very good at drawing.  I’m feeling good about the loving.

That comes in a body spray too,....

For many years I had a Fun-job at the mall.  You know what a fun-job is; a extra job you take for a time to enjoy the place and the added cash.  As a young mother who was absent from her previous career I decided it would be fun to talk to adults at the mall in one of those good smelling lotion shops  that sell soaps and candles too.  I was not a big consumer myself before working there but I had one product I’d been buying and was open to learning more. 

Soon I was immersed into smells of all kinds, learning about nutrients and moisture levels, and fragrance layering.  I fixated on every product detail and spent half (surely it was only half!) of my paycheck right there on those products.  On the holidays any family member received items in cute plastic bottles with sweet scents carefully selected for them.  This really was a fun job.

There was always a sale.  Whenever I had been in the store before as a customer I never bought the sale.  I missed out!  Check out this amazing offer I’d say, with all sincerity.  If I could help another woman get extra products for free by encouraging one more item I’d be elated.  If I helped a buyer carefully chose her gift items in a way that she could get a bonus item for her for free it was exciting.  When a guy came strolling in saying “..she wears the pink one,” in an lost and absent stare, I took the man under my wing and asked questions until we uncovered which of the three “pink” bottles she might want.  His girl wanted to be noticed and I’d grin over the chance to help him offer her that delight.

I’m not a salesperson.  I hate smarmy.  I’m not out to beat anyone, I detest crushing my co-workers goals when I hit mine; though I love to hit mine.  I’m not interested in taking anyone’s money for the sake of the sale.  I always said every lip balm was a future gift basket customer.  I hoped to never make a pressured transaction, and my goal was to enjoy the process.  More than one lady asked me; “Are you on commissioned sales?”  Taking it as a mercy flag over a filled basket I’d reply, “Wow.  No, I’m just enthusiastic about the stuff!”  I believed I wasn’t selling; I was passionate.

There were countless times was I was selling in that job.  To me I was selling the confidence I had in those products, the joy I felt in the good smelliness, the enhancement to that guy’s relationship, the treat back to the lady who wanted to buy a gift for her boss, the savings to the college student scraping by, and value to the company who was giving me a place to meet people and have fun.  Yes I sold.  I sold soaps, lotions and even candles.  I think the reason it was a fun-job though was because it wasn’t about selling.

Sometimes people will say they’re not in sales.  In my mind I think that person isn't passionate about anything to offer.  If I have a passion, a real joy for something I want to share it with you.  In the case at the mall, I happened to wear a name badge and get a smidge more than minimum wage while doing it.

Don’t be embarrassed if you like bread pudding

My mother made another bread pudding dessert for Christmas this year.  Again she stated in disbelief that she didn’t know I don’t like bread puddings.  She enjoys them and comes up with a variety of creations, most of them one of my sons relishes.  Me?  Not so much; perhaps I need sweeter.  Neither my mother nor son seems too distraught that I do not share their delight, and aside of my empty bowl I am fine with their pleasure in a dessert I simply don’t like.

One time I made a long time favorite cookie and served some to a very good friend.  She shocked me with the premises at she doesn’t like peanut butter.  What?!  That’s possible, is what I think I said aloud.  Seriously, we both laughed!  She told that sandwiches, candy bars, even cookies were not for her if they included the bitterness of peanut butter.  Wow, how different my palette would be I thought.  The key is that I never thought of my friend as wrong, or me.  I will tell the world that I am in bliss with peanut butter and fear not who disagrees. 

Somehow there are other things that people don’t feel the same way.  Why should our beliefs or opinions make us uncomfortable to share with others?  Why further do others judge or criticize people for their likes in some things?  How does public repute become the issue over sharing each other’s passions?

Have you ever hesitated to mention a speaker you are going to listen to because of fear of the other person’s political beliefs?  Have you ever  tried a new church but felt you should keep it under wraps until you were sure you were at home there?   Have you ever regretted recommending a movie when you learned someone didn’t like it?  Does your family have a certain health regiment that you keep quiet because your friends would think it unusual and you don’t want to be dissuaded?  You aren’t alone.  I don’t know why people feel this way, but many do.

Reputation is the general opinions widely held about a person.   I wonder why it is the others’ views of a person that weighs more to them than what they themselves view of themselves.  To be a light I cannot hide.  To be of influence I need to be open to someone else’s sentiments or I won’t grow.   I want to be intentional about letting you know what I am passionate about, and I think it takes conviction of character to not worry about others negatively receiving my passions. 

Sweet, Salty, Sour, or Bitter we all have our taste for things.  I hope that I allow myself to have a taste for a variety of choices, give myself permission to try new things and not hide them from people who may find delight in the sameness I would have never known about.

This isn’t practice, it’s time to play.

I made a great comparison the other day and had to write to share it with you.  I was at the grocery store when I had the pleasure of meeting up with a lady I used to be acquainted with more often.  We caught up quickly, talking about our experiences and somehow she mentioned a recent sermon message that triggered her to ponder why some people grow over time and others do not. 

I untangled my words to express what I perceived was the problem.  The average person doesn’t push themselves toward excellence and many aren’t applying growth in their faith.  It was then I pulled up a metaphor. 

As a mother of swimmers I can often find a reference there!  You know the boys have been swimming a long time.  They have been to more than one coach and have seen progress over the years.  How silly would it appear if after half dozen years they weren’t improving, right?  I remember a time when my son mentioned that most youth show up to practice and they “phone it in”.  You know, they just do the drills without extraordinary efforts.  My son has already observed that a large percentage of the team will bust out all strength at the events but do little more than participate at practices.  I was reading in a Maxwell book that he’d had a basketball coach tell him you will play like you practice. 

Isn’t that much like a walk in faith?  Some people go to church and give every ounce of who they desire to become while there at church.  When they serve on a team for their church they are fully focused on pleasing the same Lord they dishonored yesterday.  Are not many people forgetting to apply the principles to all their lives trying to pursue excellence at all the times?  It’s like they know how to be good Christians at church but phone in their faith the rest of the week.  How will they develop and grow that way?  How can they truly see how they aren’t growing if they compartmentalize their faith?  I read in a Woodward book that the famous coach, John Wooden, believed it was the effort that determined the success.  That to “phone it in”, as my teenager put it would be to rob yourself of the growth.  If we don’t apply what we can do all the time, how will we grow?

I suddenly recognize that the true progression in faith needs to be with the integrity to be who we are learning to be all the time.  Never phone it in, for your own progress is what will be missed.  The bright eyed lady I was talking with nodded her head in affirmation, but said aloud “That really is the struggle.”  The truth is I think I used to think it was the other way around.  If I could have growth on Sunday then I’d be better all week.  I have come to learn that if I work at it all week I will have more growth on Sunday.  In my faith, I will see it all as the play and never just a practice.

Gray Skies Cannot Distract Me

Good Morning!

What a lovely day it is – in my imagination!! That’s okay I respect the rain, it has a purpose and we all want a purpose. Sometimes I let the coldness or the dreariness soak up my energy, but I have recently decided that I am letting that power vanish so I will do better at being sunny whenever I need to. It isn’t easy to stick with new plans.

I was observing the teenager this weekend. He struggles with this drifted ambition as we all can. You think you have a plan or a new organization technique and you drift away. In my case I may lose my focus. Since I think I am Wonder Woman and can do it all; I expand my laser focus and next thing I have lost sight of some of the goals or techniques I was applying to my life, my business, or my day!

One of my new favorite words right now is bounce. So what I am working on again can be applied with bounce. I, like Keifer, am learning to bounce more quickly and get back off the sidetrack. Though I may think I need it to be less gray outside I shall bounce around and make it sunnier. I hope you can too.

Whatever thing you are working on, whatever goal or plan to make a goal,…. just redirect and try again!

Much love,