Today is Christmas Day…What a great day it has been for me and my family. It has been filled with a lot of laughter and family. The kids were so thankful for what they received on this day. Austin recited Luke 2:1-20. The family was so impressed by his memorizing this scripture of the bible. What a gift to have his mind to remember all of that. Of course the greatest gift is the gift of Jesus and knowing him personally. I have been reminded this Christmas season that everyone is born with gifts and talents and it is up to us to develop those gifts. I have had the opportunity to share this story to a few of my closest friends and I wanted to share it with you too. This year has been an amazing year for me in real estate in a bad market as they say. I sold 14 million and I was able to help almost 50 families see the dream of owning a home and starting a new KW franchise. (2 is enough ) With all this success, I have had many friends say to that my life looks perfect. You know the truth is the person who looks like they have everything going for them sometimes it is just a mirage. Of course not for everyone but on occasion it is the truth. I guess what I would start off with is I have learned a lot this year. I won’t go into all the details but this summer in June I really felt God dealing with me on a few issues in my life. I felt that oh so strong tugging on my spirit and the gentle voice of God saying he has so much more for me but this one issue in my life is holding me back from what he truly had for me. In my mind, I was thinking you have more for me? I thought this is what you had for me? Real estate and running a few companies and success in a huge way I have never had in my life. As you can only imagine I knew what only God would know I was struggling with. I come from a long line of alcoholics and I had no idea this is what God was referring to. And one day there you have it…. God dealt with me in such a way I knew it was Him and I said okay I GET IT. Of course this is the readers digest short version. What I have learned is priceless ……….. What I wanted to share is this. What I have learned is that there are life changing gifts in the closet that have not been unwrapped yet and sometimes our sin or our bad habits, addictions are standing in the way of what God truly has for us. Every time I have shared a version of this story I hear someone say yes that’s me too. Since opening up my new company Why Be Average? 4 months ago I have tried to stay on the path of what I thought it should be and slowly but surely I am learning it is not about me at all it’s about what he has for me to do for Him. It has been mind boggling what doors have opened for me to speak on leadership. In the last 3 months I have the opportunity to speak to middle school, high school, and college students. I also had the opportunity to speak with Dr. Tim Elmore a few weeks ago. I was very excited when he gave me a few minuets to speak on not being average. I am now looking to use the gifts that have been in the closet for many years to hopefully be influential in women, youth and college students in leadership. To my surprise I have shared my story of my bad habit with others and I really believe it has made a difference in their lives to see what might be their bad habit too. ( Failure is not an option is my favorite phrase) I am now working on a few book projects that God has put on my heart and I look forward to a great year in real estate again because it is my job and I do love what I do. I am really looking forward to using the gifts that has been hiding in my closet for so many years. I am not perfect by any means and I still am working on my character flaws but I can say I am free from my bad habit. Now that the fog has lifted from my eyes and I can hear better on what God has for me and my family. My prayer now is for God to keep opening the doors he has for me and to turn my success into significance. I am truly blessed by the new friends and my true friends that God has put in front of my path. I believe some of you reading this blog might have gifts in their closet they have not unwrapped either. What I have discovered for me is this IS the road less traveled……………….
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Great, Laura! Thanks for sharing your heart!