When life hands us a load, He often brings us out of our shell to carry it. For those of us who live in the shell, it’s a little uncomfortable, but HE gives us strength for the moment, and rest when we are weary.

I’m an introvert. 

There. I said it. I feel so much better.

I’m not that girl who is out there marketing the world away for profits, because I want to be seen and recognized. I’m out there marketing the world for profits because I want the WORLD to be recognized.

When I realized (many years ago) that I love lifting others up and watching them shine, I was a little surprised. Why would I not want all that glory for myself?

Why would I want to show off OTHERS?

Just out of high school, went to college and got some serious business behind me, then took a job working in a feed yard with cattle. One of my favorite men at the yard was the Vet. He showed up in jeans and a western shirt, boots and a worn brown hat and helped the vet on staff (who always wore white western shirts) take care of the cattle that were sick. Elmer was a lanky kind of guy with a broad easy grin and a personality that just seemed to inspire trust. I trusted him.

One particularly rugged afternoon, he was there taking care of the cattle and as I got out of my truck, I caught my hand on a sharp piece of metal slicing open the side of it. I held it with my other hand and ran into the office where Elmer was putting away his ‘tools for the day’ and he made quick work of cleaning it up (with a squirt of L.O.C., of course), sanitizing my hand and stitching up the 3/4 inch tear in my hand. 3 good stitches, some salve, a clean bandage and some Tylenol(tm) from Preston in the office and I was good as new, except for the tears that kept falling.

I couldn’t get them to stop. 

They just kept falling. And falling. And falling.

I didn’t want to cry. My hand really wasn’t hurting that badly. And I didn’t really want all the attention I was getting because of my hand. But I’d been on the verge of tears for most of the day… And I guess God knew I just needed to let those tears escape, so he gave me a reason.

As I walked to the car, I realized Elmer was walking out too. At the car, he put his arm around my shoulders and gave me a one armed squeeze and said, “I’m headed in too. I’ll follow you home and make sure you’re in okay.”

Elmer had been in Amway for many years at that point too. My parents had been in Amway since I was a little girl, and I’d been selling it since I was 9 years old, because I liked to sell. But that day, I realized that I (and most of the other people who were successful in sales) didn’t sell because I wanted the attention. I was in sales because I believed that what I had to offer was helping others.

That’s the same as today. 

I market other people’s businesses, not because I’m good at it (although I’m an amazing marketer) but because by marketing their businesses, I’m lifting them up. I’m helping them out. And I’m making someone else shine.

Those little glimmers you see on me are just reflections of the shine that comes back when I help others.