Until this weekend I thought I was blessed to have a nice house to live in, a good job to go to, and enough money to live comfortably. But after my first book signing, I was reminded that I am thankful for those things . . . very thankful . . . but people are the ones who bring the blessings:
Blessed is having store owners (a husband and wife team) who don’t know much about you, but willingly open their bookstore to you and then treat you, your family, and your guests like royalty.
Blessed is having a sister who donates her time and talent to help you become successful and then “has your back” and takes care of everything at the book signing.
It is having a mother and father who spent the last month calling and emailing and offering a free lunch (I think that is called bribing) to get people to come to the signing.
It is having a Downs sister spend the afternoon at the signing and greet all your friends and guests. And it is having her pastor and those who work with her (and their families) come out too, just to support her sister.
It is having a childhood neighbor (who now lives in the Bay Area) take the time to bring her children by to support you even though they have a wedding to attend that same afternoon.
It is having your long distance prayer partner of thirty years come over with her husband and give you the biggest hug of the day and buy books for the whole family.
Blessed is having high school classmates who haven’t seen you in YEARS commandeer Facebook to get the word out to all your classmates and then take time out of their day to come out and support you, and if they couldn’t make it, send their well wishes.
It is having former colleagues and fellow coaches (who now run school districts and county programs) skip away from work duties just to see you.
It is having your own high school tennis coach show up as a surprise.
Blessed is having your 1984 tennis team scheme, sneak out of conferences, leave children in the care of husbands, and drive four hours from LA just to surprise you.
Blessed is having college buddies (who in 1979 flew down to Orange County just to go with you to the only ABBA tour in the US ever) now come from across the Valley to your book signing even though they already have signed copies of your book because they bought it in the first five minutes it was available.
Blessed is having those friends of your parents who either supported you as you grew up, as you graduated with their children, as you coached their children, or just because they were your parents come out once again to encourage you.
Blessed is having people who have no idea who you are, drive in from around Fresno County just to meet you, offer you encouragement, and buy your book.
Blessed is having family and friends from across the country and around the world Facetime and email their support because they couldn’t be there.
Blessed is realizing that whether by birth, choice, or circumstance, God has put every one of the people we meet into our lives to bless us in some way. Last Saturday, I was indeed very blessed.
Blessed is having store owners (a husband and wife team) who don’t know much about you, but willingly open their bookstore to you and then treat you, your family, and your guests like royalty.
Blessed is having a sister who donates her time and talent to help you become successful and then “has your back” and takes care of everything at the book signing.
It is having a mother and father who spent the last month calling and emailing and offering a free lunch (I think that is called bribing) to get people to come to the signing.
It is having a Downs sister spend the afternoon at the signing and greet all your friends and guests. And it is having her pastor and those who work with her (and their families) come out too, just to support her sister.
It is having a childhood neighbor (who now lives in the Bay Area) take the time to bring her children by to support you even though they have a wedding to attend that same afternoon.
It is having your long distance prayer partner of thirty years come over with her husband and give you the biggest hug of the day and buy books for the whole family.
Blessed is having high school classmates who haven’t seen you in YEARS commandeer Facebook to get the word out to all your classmates and then take time out of their day to come out and support you, and if they couldn’t make it, send their well wishes.
It is having former colleagues and fellow coaches (who now run school districts and county programs) skip away from work duties just to see you.
It is having your own high school tennis coach show up as a surprise.
Blessed is having your 1984 tennis team scheme, sneak out of conferences, leave children in the care of husbands, and drive four hours from LA just to surprise you.
Blessed is having college buddies (who in 1979 flew down to Orange County just to go with you to the only ABBA tour in the US ever) now come from across the Valley to your book signing even though they already have signed copies of your book because they bought it in the first five minutes it was available.
Blessed is having those friends of your parents who either supported you as you grew up, as you graduated with their children, as you coached their children, or just because they were your parents come out once again to encourage you.
Blessed is having people who have no idea who you are, drive in from around Fresno County just to meet you, offer you encouragement, and buy your book.
Blessed is having family and friends from across the country and around the world Facetime and email their support because they couldn’t be there.
Blessed is realizing that whether by birth, choice, or circumstance, God has put every one of the people we meet into our lives to bless us in some way. Last Saturday, I was indeed very blessed.
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