MY LIFE....

Hey Yall!

I Haven't written for this column in a while and I apologize.

Got to do better, but you may remember that this column is about my life experiences on the job. I have some pretty amazing experiences on my job! I've met some really nice, incredible people being a story teller. Lately, I have been working nights. I get to wear incredible costumes to perform these special holiday stories. Story telling is a form of acting. I like what I do! I really appreciate the position I am in. I' have had some incredible audiences over the last 5 years! The holidays bring to end and chapter in this amazing time of my life.

The little kids I meet are actually the best audience, especially the really little ones, who want me "to tell them a story" too! This one little cute kid, she had to be all of 3, bundled up in her pink snow suit, she came up to me last Friday night at work with her parents and a her big sister (maybe 8 years old) and she just stood beside me, gazing at my beautiful old fashioned holiday dress. I looked like a woman from the "Christmas Carol", all decked out in my holiday best!

One of the guests said I looked like a 'BIG BABY DOLL", "One of those fine, expensive, old fashioned ones". Beautiful!", they said. Maybe so because this particular little girl was mesmerized! She walked right up to me, stopped, stared (I promise you, her eyes got really big, bright and they kind of glazed)......She waved and said "tell me a story!" Geez!

It was the start of something beautiful happening to me that night, as a Story Teller.

I acknowledged her parents and sibling. I felt so honored by this little girls attention that I got down on my knees (in all my costumed glory) so I could, "be on her level". She and her family were so pleased and grateful for this special attention all the while I'm still acknowledging the other guests. (They were all taken by this little kid too!) The Dad actually said that they remembered me from another place telling stories. He kept telling his wife, "THAT'S HER! THAT'S HER!" He asked me if I was at another place, telling different stories in the summer time. I said, "yes". The dad then smiled so brightly. He went on to say, "I knew that was you! Did you know when we saw you the first time (this summer) my kids were so amazed by you that we stayed listening to the "stories" you told, for a whole hour! My daughters would not let us leave you until they were completely satisfied that they had gotten enough from you. Thank you for engaging my daughters and all of us like you do.

We'll see you again!"

That was so wonderful!! and oh so humbling.

WOW! My GOD! Only God can do that! Hee Hee!

(I am laughing out of pure pleasure, joy, and gratefulness to God).

What a gift for God to trust me with, Story telling! Did you know Reader that God PURPOSED STORY TELLERS? Who do you think was spreading the "Good News" of God and keeping the history, the victories, the love of God going from generation to generation?...

...It was the STORY TELLERS!

Every culture needed and still needs them. They are also the ones that pass down the history of your family, your culture, traditions, your people and the world around you! They teach you, us through history, who we are, what our personal story and purpose is. They connect us...to us! They remind us! They enlighten us. THEY... are the STORY TELLERS.

I want to share something else about Story Tellers, with you readers.

To these people, God gave the great gift of engaging others. He also gave them the "teaching ability" to keep them knowledgeable and interesting while they entertained and poured important knowledge into their listeners! They know the importance of wisdom and protect it! The Story Tellers learned to read the eyes, and body language of the listener as well. They could move a crowd of children or hard hearted adults! The Story Tellers were captivating to their audiences. These people, telling the Lord stories, would go to great lengths to get their stories told. I can just imagine what they must have looked like using their voices, face, hands and body language to get their points across! They were passionate about these stories. These special people could paint a picture and bring it to life with their words, with mere words! OH! Holy Lord!

Though at work, my job is to tell stories that will inspire, but not the Lords stories, God has still found a way to put to service the gifts in me! He can and will do the same for you, (directing and blessing the gifts that HE put in you), if you let him! Though you may get the credit and praise from others, your gifts and talents are REALLY to uplift the Lord in the Land, through your life! The praise you get really should be given to him by you. Keeping in mind, "it is right to "give honor where honor is due", it is OK to receive kudos for your work, but make sure you re-direct that praise, even quietly on your own, to him. Sometimes, it's appropriate to give it to him aloud! Still, it is all for his Glory, not yours, though you reap some of the benefits of praise from others (which you can't completely trust).

be humble and remain so. Ask God to teach you what he means by humility.

You will find it is not what we often walk around portraying!

Anyway, whatever you do, story telling, conducting business, painting, cutting the grass, teaching....whatever it is... "anything you set your hands to task at, you should become a master at." Showing God you appreciate and acknowledge him in your life through your giftings.

For his Glory, remember!

As a believer in Christ, I know that even if I don't specifically speak about Jesus, because I believe, he can still show up within my life for others to "see". Especially when I am being active in the gifts he has given me, such as story telling! Anyway, as you can tell, (though I didn't grow up saying I want to be a story teller, and I have not been able yet to make a lucrative living at it)... I am indeed very much honored to be considered a Story Teller! You must know this, that little kid and her family kept me glowing and energized for the rest of the night! Though I know, I had a few more hours to work after they left, the night was over before I knew it! Hee Hee! I'm still laughing. Joy is so powerful!

Here's something else great that recently happened in "MY LIFE" on the job! This is a good story for the Holiday season. I went to work last night, still telling Holiday stories and as I was checking in, I was told to check my employee mailbox. I did. Easing my way through the small crowd of my co-workers, I made my way to the cluster of mailboxes on the wall which is really huge shelving with alphabets for our last names. Shocked! (pleasantly, of course), I started sorting through the mail and most of the mail was for me! Christmas cards from other employees.

I graciously collected my small pile and quietly exited the room. I headed for the women's locker room, to prepare for the night. I sat and took a moment to open the cards and was quite pleased with the nice sentiments. One particular card came from a nice, but very quiet person.

She is also an avid reader of my column. She's very creative and obviously spent a great deal of time on this card wishing my son and I, a very 'Blessed Christmas'... with Love. Anyway, her card had a gift inside for me. She actually stitched me a book mark and with my name stitched into it. How cool is that! She even spelled it my name correctly!

Anyway, As interesting as that was, the most interesting part was all the writing inside. She actually hand wrote a small story about the...

'Legend of The Candy Cane'.

I don't know how true it is, but it makes for a marvelous holiday story. I'll share it with you.

LEGEND OF THE CANDY CANE

Writer of the story, unknown

A Candy Maker wanted to make a Candy that would help us remember who Christmas is REALLY about! So, he made a Christmas Candy Cane.

He incorporated several symbols for the birth, ministry and death of JESUS, The Christ.

He began with a stick of pure white hard candy:

White to symbolize the virgin birth and sinless nature of Jesus:

Hard candy to symbolize the solid rock, the foundation of the Church and firmness of the promises of God.

The Candy Maker made the candy in the form of 'J' to represent the name of Jesus.

It also represented the staff of the "Good Shepard". The Candy-Maker then included red stripes, to represent the suffering Christ endured at the end of his life.

The candy became known as a 'CANDY CANE', a decoration seen at Christmas time.

The meaning has faded, but it still gives joy to children young and old, whom Jesus loves and treasures.

Thank you, for that story, my friend.

ALSO, Thank you Dear Reader, for letting me share MY LIFE with you.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE!