Wow.

Today, while at the park with my children, I over heard a young woman and a not-so-young man talking about how he and his wife recently moved in with their adult daughter, her husband and their 5 (yes 5!) boys - ages 5 weeks (twins), 2, 7 and 9! As they talked about how he has become a live in babysitter, she repeatedly said "praise God", "to God be the glory", and "all in His plan". Recognizing that she was a Christian, I started thinking about how Mary Kay might appeal to her as a business considering we, as a company, are based on two principles - 1) Keeping your priorities of God 1st, family 2nd and career 3rd in that order. 2) The Golden Rule: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." A little while later she had turned and was talking with another mom. I was on the outskirts of their conversation; adding in little things here and there while chasing Addison around. She mentioned to us that she is a single parent of three girls. I told her that as a one time single mom myself, I had a ton of respect for her. I also told her that God has an incredible plan for her life and although it's impossible to see the big picture when you're right smack in the middle of it, she'll be able to look back one day and see the pieces fall into place. Her face lit up and she thanked me for saying that. 

After a while, I re-approached this beautiful woman and said "I hope you don't think I am crazy, but I teach skin care with Mary Kay Cosmetics and I'm sure as a single mom, pampering yourself is not at the top of your priority list. With that in mind, I feel really called to offer you a complimentary facial along with a $10 gift card to use towards whatever products you want. Is that something you'd like?" She looked so thankful and accepted happily. She then casually mentioned that she'd actually thrown around the idea of doing Mary Kay. I excitedly told her that from the minute I heard her talking to openly about God, I wanted to share our business with her because I so love working for a company that was founded on God 1st, family 2nd and career 3rd. Upon hearing that, her jaw dropped, her eyes swelled up with tears and she coughed out an "are you serious?" followed by "God is so good". She stood there with her eyes filling with tears and her hand on her heart, gaping at me. Her reaction was so heartwarming that I reached out to embrace her. We hugged and she cried, saying, "God is so good, God is so good" a couple times through her tears. It was such a "moment". One of those moments you know happened because God wanted it to. 

We exchanged contact info and she told me that she is currently living at her pastor's house because the apartment they were in had become very unsafe. We talked a little more and then she thanked me -thanked me, like I'd done something extraordinary- for being so bold and offering the facial to her. I think my fear of hearing "no" sounds so lame and selfish when I take into consideration how joyful an offering of something so simple could make someone. I know that God can work through me, through Mary Kay. All I have to do it open my mouth and ask. 

As I walked with a skip in my step back to the car I heard my phone's text message sound go off. I ignored it and got the girls buckled in, all the while still thinking about how awesome and honestly moving my meeting with Melissa had been. Once in the driver's seat, I grabbed my phone to check the message and there, already opened up and staring back at me was not the new message I'd just received, but the response Kevin has sent me many months ago after I informed him via text that one day I would have a pink Cadillac. I had saved it because it meant so much to me. Staring back at me, after this incredible encounter with a woman who really needed a beckon of hope, were the words "I believe you will." Four simple words that meant so much then and again today, meant so much. I believe that God will work through me to enrich the lives of women around me. I believe I will inspire. I believe today both of those things happened and I am truly thankful to have met Melissa. 

Thanks for reading. Please take a moment and lift Melissa up in prayer. She asked that I pray for her and specifically mentioned the verse containing the words "let no weapon formed against me prosper."