When I head down to my mailbox I have to admit – there is never a bounce in my step. I just don’t get excited about what’s waiting for me there. I can always count on the usual suspect; catalogs, coupon books, banking statements and, of course, bills… none of those things inspire me or get my heart pumping. In fact I often feel as though I am a bar code, a number that represents my membership in a particular consumer base. I am just one more individual ripe for a credit card application, advertisement, or sale announcement. I rarely feel as though I am recognized as an actual person!
One day a few years ago I trudged down to my mailbox with the usual enthusiasm. I remember grabbing the handle rather violently – I was expecting a large bill from an insurance company and was quite nervous about it. As I walked back to my house I thumbed through the wad of mail in my hands; the large number of obscure catalogs and marketing magazines really made it difficult to maintain my grip!
I was surprised to see a cancelled stamp hiding behind a brochure for a well-known cosmetic company. It really got my attention. It was stuck to a colorful envelope, thankfully not the kind of envelope that would hold anything looking for a payment. My name was hand written on the front and the return address was one I recognized as being that of an old friend from church. At that point, my day changed - I didn’t even have to open the Christian card, I knew something good was in store for me. What I found inside was a short, heartfelt note letting me know that she and her family had been thinking of me. All the stress of finances, incoming bills and daily responsibilities disappeared. I was blessed with the knowledge that someone had thought of me and spent the time to let me know by sending me a beautiful Christian card.
It wasn’t my birthday. It wasn’t Christmas. It wasn’t a graduation or baptism. My friend simply wanted me to know that she loved me and I was close to her heart. The Christian card she sent me not only calmed my nerves, but it also reconnected me with my faith and the love that God has for me. It truly made a huge impact.
So, do you want to make a difference? Send a card… Better yet, send a Christian card! It will make more of an impression than you would expect.
I debated whether or not to post entry, I felt sharing my story of starting my business might be a bit to personal. I also believed my story did not have enough strife to make it interesting and I felt too inexperienced to discuss starting a business. After much thought, I realized publishing my story wasn’t about being interesting or an expert. It was about seeing beyond my acute fear that what I had to say wasn’t good enough or important enough to make a difference. This fear is my adversary and I work to overcome it every day.
Two years ago I had an idea: create a line of edgy Christian greeting cards that would give people a new way of seeing and sharing their faith; cards whose funky, modern designs would attract the attention of many who have regarded Christianity (or at least its social expression) with suspicion; cards that would be a ministry of healing and connection. Sure, this big idea was mine, however I had no clue where it came from. I was a trained designer, but incapable of doing anything more than showing up and completing mindless tasks; too fearful and insecure to ask for more satisfying and challenging work. The idea scared me so much I tried to shut down any dreams of its success. Despite my efforts, I couldn’t make the idea go away and I couldn’t ignore it. Looking for guidance, I met with my pastor. Fearful of his opinions I spoke with uncertainty, laughing at the idea and myself. He looked at me and asked, “Why are you doing this when its obvious you don’t want to?” I was taken aback, unprepared for a question like that. Eventually the words came: “I’m tired of being afraid. God willing, I will regain my passion for design, find confidence in my abilities and become excellent at what I do. I will be able to shoulder the responsibility of entrepreneurship and lose my fear of failure.” I was shocked to hear my answer. Those powerful words didn’t seem to come from me, but I somehow knew they were true. This marked a significant shift in my self-perception. Although I didn’t believe I could achieve any of this on my own, the concept that God would help me began to form. This is when things started to change.
The idea has since come alive. Aptly named GimmeGrace, we are on the verge of big things. Already our cards inspire and encourage people from all walks of life. Personally I’m not perfect, but I am passionate, often fearless and good at what I do. I walk in confidence, gratitude and joy and feel most alive helping others do the same.
Advice for October: Do something you are afraid of every day. This may sound trite, but making a habit of regularly facing fear gradually loosens the grip it has on us. Once one looks back on a time of intentional fear facing, the idea that life may not be so terrifying often begins to form. This makes bigger challenges less intimidating and allows for increased confidence and clarity. Personally, practicing courage hasn’t solved every problem, but it has turned many insurmountable anxieties into bumps in the road.
I have been attending a new church for the past few months. I have to admit I feel a little guilty, like I am being unfaithful and cheating on the church I currently belong to. Don't get me wrong, I love my old church: the congregation is large and diverse, the pastor is humorous and full of incredible wisdom, the ministries are supportive and loving... so why am I thinking of making a move?
I believe that God has a plan for me and change is a part of it. Although it is expected and often good, I have always found change to be uncomfortable - so I avoid it. God is challenging my complacency by leading me to this new place of worship. He is giving me exciting things to think about, opportunities for growth in faith and reliance in him.
The fact that God is in control and has a specific path for me becomes more and more apparent as I go through the process of deciding where to worship. Guilt, doubt and insecurity continually pop up. I have become consumed with self-centered questions: "Did I do enough for my church? Will they be mad at me if I leave? How will they be able to continue the level of care without me? Will they forget me?" and especially "Will they still like me?"
I have come to realize that it is not all about me. If what I am doing aligns with where God is leading me, I can't go wrong. The church will do just fine without me - the congregation is large and diverse, someone else will step in and do the work that I have been doing. I have used my God given gifts to further his message in ways that are unique to my abilities. I have done my best to be the salt and the light, to uplift those in need and support the church's vision and mission. God loves me, values me and appreciates the work I have done. Now he has something new in mind and I get to discover what it is. Get over yourself, Coventry! Get ready for something big. Now that you are finally out of the way, God can really get to work.
Feel free to grab a cup of tea and a cookie, put your feet up and take a look around. You'll find heaps of great content and information about my business, me, my passions and those I am in fellowship with. Please, come back often and see what goodies await you!
Our vision at GimmeGrace is to live fully in the true joy and peace that is found through Christ Jesus and inspire others to do the same. It is my goal that this blog continually focus on that... however... being human, I know that I will sometimes fail. I am fortunate that God will make up for my shortcomings and find a way to speak through me despite my mistakes; I look forward to what you might hear! Aside from personal comments and stories, I will be posting on topics such as Faith and Business, Finding your Purpose, Apologizing for your Beliefs, Christ and Design and How Much is Good Enough, to name a few. I hope that you will find inspiration and encouragement in these postings - maybe even something that will allow you to minister to others!
Keep in mind that, like all of us, I am not an expert Christian, nor am I particularly good at living a Christ centered life. What I CAN tell you is that I truly love the Lord... I love Jesus and I believe he died for my sins. I trust I was put on this Earth to use my gift of creativity in a way that brings others closer to God. I will share with you my joys, struggles, comments, concerns and wisdom. I will pray for you when you ask me to and I will do my best to represent GimmeGrace as God would have me.
I hope you enjoy and feel free to let me know what you think!
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