Faith

It was about this time last year when I had all but given up faith that the business was going to succeed. I was in desperate need of more speaking engagements and book sales if I was to continue. I sent up a silent prayer asking for some help.
Two weeks or so later I received a phone call from someone who had seen our presentation two years before. This man was sure I would be the right person to give a talk to the group at his workplace. The catch — it was to be for free. This man said this would be a gift to me as much as to them, if I could just see it like that, and he threw in a promise that I could sell my books at the event.
I hesitated in answering, all the reasons why I shouldn’t give myself away running through my mind. Most especially I was thinking of all the explaining I was going to have to do to friends and family over just that, when I heard myself say, Okay!
Okay? Well, I thought, at least I was accomplishing one of my goals which is to share with others some of the lessons I am learning and some of the skills I have found that help to navigate through life.
As I expected, I had to listen to friends and family worry about me giving my talent away. "Besides," they said. "How was that going to help the business?"
Bless my mother who only said "Perhaps next time you pray dear you should remember to ask for money."
The day of the presentation (actually two presentations, one over lunch and one over supper), came. The crowd was a mixed group of men and women with ages from 20 to 70, mainly patient care aids, some LPN’s, some RN’s.
After my talk I was sitting at the back of the room selling my books and I remember sending up another silent prayer asking for a few more sales to make the day worthwhile from a financial stand point. Then a woman approached the table and introduced herself as the manager of the organization. She thanked me for the presentation and then stated that she would like to purchase some books.
I thought great, and told her that with ten or more books I would give a 25% discount. She said she would like to buy 26 copies.
Wow I thought — Thank you — as I looked upward. Then I said "Would that be 13 of book one and 13 of book two or 26 of just one?"
"Oh no she said 26 of each."
I was taken back for a moment and then sporting a huge smile went on to work out a payment process before she went back to her office. Then I sat down and began signing the copies to give to her.
She reappeared and as I was gathering up the books to give her she said "Do you have lots of books on hand?" "Well, yes I do" I replied.
"You know I was thinking about our fall graduation ceremony and how I always give the graduates something and I would like to give them each a copy of your book."
"Great, how many were you thinking of?"
"We’ll need 150." She responded.
I thought that my face would burst I was ginning so hard. "So 75 of book one and 75 of book two or 150 of just one book." I ventured
"Oh no," she said again smiling back "150 of each."
This time I sat down with a whoompf!
My mind was going over the math and I realized I would not have to worry about shutting the doors on my business for at least another year or two. I was overwhelmed. Thank goodness there was an hour or so between then and the next talk as it would take me that much time to settle my emotions down.
After my presentation I could hardly wait to get home and phone my mom to tell her all that had gone on, mostly though to share the lesson that I had learned that day. I was reminded that I never needed to ask for money. I just needed to believe in myself and my goals.
The gentleman that requested my help was right. I did receive a gift that day. It wasn’t just the sale of books. It was the gift of faith.
It’s amazing what a bit of faith can do. Now when I find myself doubting my path or wondering if I am doing all that I can, I think back to last year and remember my prayer and how it was answered.
So in this season of Christmas I wish all of you a very merry holiday. Most of all I wish for you to continue to believe in yourselves and in your dreams. I wish you all the gift of FAITH!

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LB

TFTT # 89 © Linda Bridge