Yesterday, I found myself in a state of grace, but only now do I really think I understand what that means.

It wasn't the best of mornings. I had just poured my first cup of coffee when I received an unexpected phone call. It started out fine, but when I uncovered that the caller had an underlying motive, it hurt me in a way that I didn't quite expect.  It wasn't what this person had called about that hurt me, it was realizing that what was said before I discovered the real reason for the phone call was generated to distract me and completely moot. I felt used and it hurt. I spoke my peace and the call ended abruptly, not on my behalf, which made it hurt even worse. I never saw it coming, especially because of who it came from. So I sat down, took a deep breath and vented while desperately trying to come up with a solution. Down and confused, I opened up my computer to start working...and immediately forgot about everything that had happened.

I received an email from a client out of the blue, expressing gratitude for all the "behind the scenes" work that I do for the company and explained the impact I had made on her, stating that she still remembers the very first time we spoke on the phone and what we talked about. This really just touched my heart. It's not very often that someone will recognize you for the things you do every day, because to some degree, they are expected. But to receive a letter like that, so unexpected, from an unexpected source, after an unexpected phone call from the complete opposite side of the emotion spectrum...it was like God was removing all doubt that the preceding phone call had instilled, instantaneously. I opened another email and found another personal letter from a client, thanking me for being "a smiling face on the other end of the line". I sat there for a moment staring at the screen and suddenly became overwhelmed with joy. I couldn't contain myself. I was oozing pure, real, warm, glowing joy. The hurt had disappeared and the solutions I needed to fix the problems at hand were clear. I wasn't upset at the caller, rather I understood why they had said what they said. I was in a total state of grace. I began to look around at all the things around me to broaden my perspective and was feeling overwhelmingly grateful for all of it. Often times when my problems SEEM so big that they begin to block my peripherals, I picture myself as the little blue dot on my Google Earth GPS to remind myself how much is really going on around me. That's when it's easiest for me to give thanks and then it just flows from there. Everything that I once wasn't so thrilled about suddenly had a greater positive that counteracted whatever I had felt about it before. There was no room for doubt, or anything negative at all. The sun looked brighter and everything got a little more beautiful.

I had a moment with God yesterday, but apparently so did a few of our clients the night before. I just want to take this moment to express MY gratitude to everyone in the Grace and Strength family. Leaders, owners, coaches, clients, and blog readers combined. We have the best team and to be able to do what I do is a blessing. I'd like to send an extra special thanks to the clients that messaged me and helped me bounce back from my moment of doubt. Your words are so meaningful to me and to know that I have made an impact on you is the biggest blessing I could ask for. So this Thanksgiving, I am thankful for YOU. All of you. And the state of grace I was so unexpectedly delivered to yesterday morning. I pray that all of you get to encounter a moment like this.... and to up the chances of that happening...go tell someone what they mean to you! Spread the love. Somebody, somewhere, needs to hear it...right about now.

Jenna Dawn

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* Individual results may vary.