» live intentionally

You Make a Difference

Beth — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 14:56:46 +0000

Who you are and what you do makes a difference.

That’s important for each of us to realize and remember. I have been shown this in my own life in several instances lately that I’d like to share with you. I’m not trying to build myself up, I just want you to see that the little things you do, make a difference in someone else’s life.

Today, Randy and I rode to Cowarts to participate in a Patriot Guard mission for one of our country’s heroes. On our way home, a young man pulled up in the lane beside me on his bike, smiled, pointed towards my PGR banner, then saluted me. He then pulled up beside Randy and did the same, saying, “Thank You”. A little further down the road, the driver of a truck hauling cars gave us a thumbs up; again because he saw the PGR banner. Sometimes I get frustrated because I don’t seem to be making a difference in what I do with the PGR, but both of those incidents make me realize that someone is seeing the PGR for what they are – a group of people who want to show respect to our military personnel, police, firefighters and other first responders.

Another aspect of my life is working with children, both in Children’s Church and working as a substitute. Most people see Children’s Church as a babysitting service, and sometimes that is all it feels like; but I try to remember that if I’m freeing up a mom and dad to hear God’s word, then I accomplishing something. But there’s nothing like the feeling of having a child yell your name and run towards you from across the grocery store – that’s a wonderful feeling.

Again, I’m not saying this to build myself up – I’m just using my own experiences to encourage you. What you do and who you are makes a difference.

Customer Service

Beth — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 08:40:00 +0000

We were at the local Verizon store on Saturday, because I’ve got to upgrade my phone. We looked around at the different options, and I spoke to the salesman a couple of times with questions.
When I decided on the phone I wanted, I told the salesman, who then told me that he would be glad to sell me a phone, but it would benefit me more if I went home and ordered it online- there were a wider variety of phones online, more savings available, the phone would be delivered the next business day, and my store credit would work online, so I’d actually get a better phone for the same price.
That’s good customer service in my book. This young man acted very professionally, answering all my questions, besides working with another customer (and not making either one of us feel as if we were being too much trouble). He put my benefit above his own, so I plan on going back to that store for any accessories I need to get for my phone.
How do you live intentionally (see here or here) in your business? Do your employees know how to put the customer’s needs first?

Days of Frustration…

Beth — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 14:15:00 +0000

This weekend just ending has had some rough edges. Ballgame Friday night, up early and to the church to pick peanuts off the vine for our upcoming peanut boil (we got 3 large trashbags full!); Saturday evening we helped chaperone a teenage party for some friends’ daughters. Sunday is always full, between Sunday School and church in the morning (I teach children’s church), lunch at MIL’s house, children’s play practice on Sunday afternoon, then back to church for evening worship. Then last night’s meeting left me feeling drained…
I know I shouldn’t let things push me past my breaking point, but it happens sometimes, just the same. Too much drama from too many directions all at once, and I’m feeling overwhelmed. I’m still not back to my normal, happy self – I’m not claiming to be a happy camper all the time, but for the most part I operate on a pretty even keel.
I know there are some things that I need to do to prevent this from happening. First, I need to spend more time praying and studying my Bible, so I know where I’m supposed to be (I notice that when I get to this point, my mind tends to start worrying about things that don’t come under my authority).
Second, I need to make sure I’m getting the rest I need – when I start feeling like this, I need to get away, either by walking, riding, reading or listening to music.
Third, I need to talk it over with someone – mostly it’s my husband, but it can be others as well. The main thing is I need to say out loud what the problem is, so it loses it’s power on me.
I feel better now, and I can get back to work…

Having a purpose

Beth — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 21:24:00 +0000

I hate seeing waste. I don’t care where I see it, I hate it. I hate that we’re a throwaway society for the most part. I belong to a group called Free-cycle (a yahoo group- check it out in your area) just because I hate to see things get thrown away that can be used again.
For example, right now I’m working on a swap to a lady who needed some wine bottles for a craft she’s working on. I don’t drink wine, but I know someone who drinks an Acai berry juice mixture, which comes in bottles that look very similar to wine bottles. So I’m collecting them and going to make sure she gets them.
Anytime I see something lying on the side of the road, my first thought is ‘can’t that be used for something?’. It’s not just the thought of landfills overflowing with usable stuff, but that’s part of it; the big part is that people are not being good stewards of what God has given us.
That goes for everything – my husband doesn’t like to eat leftovers, but they make a very nice lunch for me. I love to drink Gatorade, so I get the ones with the squeeze lid. When they’re empty, I wash them out and freeze them for my bike rides.
I save plastic butter tubs for storing leftovers and freezing soups. I save 2-liter bottles, fill them with water and freeze them to use in our coolers when we camp. I save misprinted paper and reuse the blank areas for note paper- who cares if it’s already got something on it- after I’ve used it up, I can shred it and use it for packing paper.
I feel the same way about people- just because a person isn’t perfect (and who is?), I believe they can have a purpose. Older people have knowledge and experience that we ‘younger’ folks don’t… and I don’t think children are a punishment, either. I believe the Bible is absolutely true, and I have never seen a place where God sent children as a punishment – quite the opposite. He stopped women from having children because of the choices they were making.
I know that sometimes being a parent is tough – but the rewards are so much greater than any effort we have to put out there.