Today I head into new territory – uncharted and so far undiscovered. I begin working for a local consignment shop, designing and decorating their merchandise. I am excited….and completely scared.
My goal? To help make the shop an inviting place for customers. A place that will be pleasing to the eye and also pleasing to the heart. Where decor comes together to give a homey feeling that will draw people in and invite them to stay awhile.
But my hope is that the homey feeling will come from not only the design of the store, but from the acceptance and love portrayed by those of us who work there. I don’t just want to bring my creativity. I want to bring my heart and soul. I want to help make every person who walks through that door feel like they are a valued friend that we are there to serve. I want them to feel that they are listened to fully when they share about their day or ask for help with their purchases.
I know that shopping and consignment stores are not world peace. But I do believe that I will have opportunities to give people a sense and feeling of peace in the time I get to spend with them – both my fellow employees and the customers. And that can happen through me allowing God to use my life fully every single day and hour and minute that I am there. Through my conversations, my attitudes and by using whatever ability I possess for the benefit of others.
Am I nervous? Heck yeah! But when the focus goes from me to others and from thinking that I am doing this alone to knowing that Jesus is sharing every aspect of this experience with me, the fear fades into excitement and anticipation. I would love your prayers in that regard today 🙂 And I will cling to these words from Isaiah 51:16 – “I have put my words in your mouth and covered you with the shadow of my hand…”
(Day 6 of new things – starting my new job 🙂 )
