I could just see it so clearly. ME...walking into a room full of women. I was dressed impeccably down to the shoes. I looked great. I smelled great. Success was just written all over me. I was there to encourage them in their businesses.
I knew women like this. They drove pink cars, burgundy cars and luxury SUV's. They went on fabulous trips with their husbands or their girlfriends. They were able to pay for their children's college tuition with what they earned alone or they were able to work around their children's school schedules. I knew one successful woman who told me that this was her ministry. She was able to encourage women to be the best they could be and be a mentor in their faith walk as well.
I knew them. I wanted to be one of them. So, I tried. And Tried. AND TRIED. You name the company and there is a good chance I was one of their representatives.
The problem is...I'm more of a behind the scenes kind of girl. My little fantasy never included all the work that had to be done to book appointments, show up and actually "sell" something at the appointment and do the followup. Oh, I could DO the followup...it was just the other stuff that I wasn't so great at.
Through the years I've learned where my gifts are and more importantly maybe...where they AREN'T. What I did decipher from my fantasy? I really wanted the opportunity to encourage other women. I've found other outlets for that now...hopefully...sometimes even on this blog.
So, as I watch the company cars pull into our car pool line at school, I will know that the person driving that car is probably using her gifts and I know now that I'm also using mine.
I hope you know what your gifts are. It took me a long time to find mine. I think that as I discover my gifts, my purpose is also being discovered. Knowing my purpose brings...Contentment.
Wonderful post~
ReplyDeleteIt is great to just be Me~
I like this post a lot. A reminder to those that have tried to reach for the stars only to become "average" and that it's ok to be that. I too have tried the direct selling thing. Wasn't for me either. Even at nearly 40 , I still wonder what it is that I am supposed to be doing. I mentioned about being "average" , but you know, for me, there is great comfort in that. I'm not always having to put up this facade that I have to live by. I think that we also need those dreams to remind us of who we are and that whoever we might be, we matter. I do clean on the side for extra money,but my station ( which is actually a daily choice if you think about it) as a wife and mother are more important to me. Which, by the way, you gave me GREAT ENCOURAGEMENT recently when you spoke of how you learned to embrass your home as a blessing instead of a burden. Oh friend...I so needed to learn that! Isn't it amazing how God puts someone in someone's life just when you needed them? Ok, I have needed to learn that lesson for some time now, but somehow you made it hit home. Now I look at my house and think, what can I do to our home today to make it feel like it's a welcoming place , a place where my husband is glad he walked through the door, instead of wishing he was still at work. I can actually look at the stuff I have around me and I like a lot of it again , whereas before I was getting really sick of it. Oh sure, I've got a long way to go,and there will be stuff I'll through out, but I'm on the right track. May God bless you today Jackie, as you pursue your endeavors! Have a great day!
ReplyDeleteWisdom...
ReplyDeleteTo find our own bliss...
It's not someone else's bliss.
It's our bliss...
And when we find it, we are [as you said] content...
What we do, fits with what we are.
And deep inside, we know this.
Wishing this, for everyone.
oh, wow - there is a lot of the past me in this post - though pleased to say that I am now content and believe I'm using my gifting in front of this computer I sit at. :)
ReplyDeleteJackie: I saw your name pop up on my blog and recognized the picture right away! Thank you for following me. I had been following you (quietly) until your Thanksgiving time post about taking a break until after the holidays--I took you at your word and stopped reading! I am now catching up on what I missed. I like your thoughts and the way you present them; I like your focus on finding contentment at hand. This post and your other recent ones especially speak to me. I'm looking forward to getting to know you all over again!
ReplyDeleteDo you find that society puts pressure on us to be 'sellers'? I sure do, and I'm glad I'm not the only one who decided it wasn't for them rather than do something we don't enjoy. There are many, many ways to reach out, and YES, your blog is definitely doing that! : )
ReplyDeleteBe well!
~Andrea~
I admire those women and their drive, and belief in what they do. But, nope, not for me either! Ahhh, contentment.. it truly is priceless (and doesn't have to be behind the wheel of a pink car). Great post, Jackie! -Tammy
ReplyDeleteThere's only one you. Only one person to fulfill the unique role God has given you. You do it well. You really do.
ReplyDeleteI love this and love reading that you have discovered, accepted and embraced who you are, even if it means forfeiting the pink and luxury rewards that are granted the other personalities who fit well into that other business model.
ReplyDeleteMay God surprise and reward you for celebrating and trusting His decision to create you to be you.
i couldn't agree with you more! great post, wonderfully said. yeah for you and for me!
ReplyDeleteTruer words...
ReplyDeleteI tried the direct sales route as well, even though I knew deep down it was not for me.
Finding where we are our best because we are using our gifts is a gift in of itself.
Jackie - Thank you for visiting my blog. I tried to be a salesperson at one time and realized I don't have the drive for it. It is outside of my personality and that is okay. Being happy with who you are and your abilities is a blessing.
ReplyDeletehi jackie,
ReplyDeleteon behalf of high calling blogs, i would like to welcome you as a member.
i hope that you will come, connect and feel a part of the group. there are a lot of fine people involved and some very interesting things to check out.
here is a link that gives a few answers to questions, with a link to ask questions and relate suggestions.
http://highcallingblogs.com/about/faq/
Love to you.
nAncY
Great post! We're continually on a journey aren't we? Feeling content with oneself is worth the journey! Such a simple concept but not as easy to achieve but so worth the effort!
ReplyDeleteJackie:
ReplyDeleteI love this post. I still remember those meetings. I am much happier where I am and who I am now.
Furniture shopping was fun, but we didnt buy a thing! :) I did get lunch out the deal. Hope your bathroom is all painted and happy now...
Hugs,
Rhonda
Hello Jackie! I am your new follower. Thank you for commenting on my blog! Sending LOVE from Poland! Helka
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you've found contentment in what are and are not your gifts. I've found great contentment in letting go of all my old expectations and finding the courage to love myself as is. I'm good at lots of things--I just never put enough value on those things til now.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I'm encouraged by you every time I come here!
Sometimes we are talented at something we aren't passionate about. Sometimes we're passionate about something we aren't talented at. Sometimes we're good at certain pieces and not others.
ReplyDeleteI did a little of the direct sales thing but only for my own business. What I discovered is that I wasn't willing to trade upon my personal relationships for profit. I wasn't willing to create fake friendships with the goal of selling product for my own self-benefit. I don't think you should feel at ALL bad. Direct sales has a downside too. There are people in my life I AVOID because the only time they call is to sell me something.
There are many ways to shine. You've found blogging to be one of them. There are other ways to make money and maintain a flexible schedule- I'm working toward that myself right now. I wish you every success!
Hello Jackie - Thanks for your comment on my blog, and welcome to the High Calling Community!
ReplyDeleteKeep up with the encouragement - You are truly blessed to know your purpose and be content in that.
Your superstar saleswomen sound like the perfect pastor's wife image that I was always wondering when I was going to zap into. When I first married Tom, I was given many books on how to be a pastors wife. Trouble was, well, "YECH"! I didn't want help being the perfect christian. It turns out, I wanted encouragement to be saved by grace! I looked in the bible and thought, there's no help or examples in here for me. That is because, pastor's wives are just regular ol' CHRISTIANS! I had several other women in the same situation encouraging me to always say the right thing and they were so spiritual and so put together - even when they were sharing their troubles! FINALLY, I kicked that! (I had never fully put that on anyway.) With joy, I realized that I'm only supposed to go ahead and be me - you know, the one God made and intended me to be! I love me (even though I definitely have some struggles but, at least they're MY struggles) and it sounds like you're rejoicing in who God made YOU!
ReplyDeleteLove, Me xo
Well, I've commented all over the place! I think that I'd better move along now! Thanks for your hospitality!