Last week I told you about the book I’ve been reading, Secrets of Powerful Women. In it, Betsy Myers writes, “The four key lessons for young people are very simple: Become an expert in your job or policy area. Become known as someone who has a positive attitude and is wonderful to work with. Become very diligent on follow-up and follow-through. And begin to build your lifelong relationship network and team of mentors.” She goes on to talk about one specific intern she had while working in the White House. This young lady went above and beyond her duties to make sure that Betsy’s dying plants were watered. She was always thinking of ways to make Betsy’s life better. She impressed her so much that soon she began to be invited to attend meetings that no other interns were invited to. She said, “There are a lot of smart, capable young people who are given the opportunity to work for powerful people. What will set you apart is to make yourself indispensable, even if it means doing grunt work…Bloom where you are planted. If you concentrate on being excellent in the job you have, someone will notice.”

Not that I am a powerful person, I just get the privilege of meeting and working with a lot of people and I am always looking for the young ones who have the potential to flourish. Melanie Simmons is someone I have noticed. I wanted to use this opportunity in this week’s blog to give you the chance to hear from a young woman in our ministry who lives by the things Betsy Myers wrote about. She has become an indispensable part of what I do for the women of our church, as well what she contributes to the staff and schools here at Capital. She has become more and more visible and integral. Her voice is one that needs to be heard by a younger generation of women who are longing for purpose and destiny and have no idea how to obtain it. She is one who is obtaining hers, one day at a time. So lean in, and as you read her words, may you be blessed with a renewed sense of purpose in your own life. ***Expecting great things, Pastor Connie

Melanie’s Guest blog:

I have the privilege to work at Capital Christian Center. We have a kindergarten through eighth grade on our campus and I serve along side our principal and oversee the running of the school office. If you are familiar with our campus then you probably are aware of Pastor Dave’s Maintenance Team which includes several teenage janitor boys, volunteer yard crews and an older man, that works faithfully everyday and maintains our campus with his skill and knowledge of what seems to be almost everything. He is known by his deep voice and when you speak to him you must speak loudly and clearly in hopes that his hearing aide will pick up your voice. Conversation usually consists of politics but just the other day it was what seemed to be an hour long conversation on ice cream. I really don’t even want to call it a conversation because I usually just sit there silently as he does all the talking, as I attempt to continue with what I’m doing with my occasional “uh huh” loudly so he knows I’m still somewhat paying attention.

But, a recent story of his, left me astounded as I saw a side of him I had never seen before. I sat in my office, tears flowing, as he shared with me the story of his son’s death. The brash man, turned tender, and showed me pictures of his son, shared with me about his final moments with him and the strength he found that He could only get from the Lord.

I learned from him that day something I will never forget. I learned that I need to listen. During the school year, my office is full of chatter, sick and troubled children, teachers and a constant flow of parents. At home my hours are spent with a little boy pulling at my skirt and asking for my hand so he can have a few minutes of my undivided attention and a husband who lovingly listens to the stresses of my day so I can put it behind me.

Psalms 49:1 says “Listen, everyone, listen— earth-dwellers, don’t miss this. All together now: listen.”

There is something so sweet about the art of listening. It forces us to stop talking and it makes us give our undivided attention.

It is so much easier to listen on Facebook or Twitter, it doesn’t require your undivided attention and many of us have learned to talk and tweet at the same. But, to stop and genuinely listen to people takes work.

I’m reminded of a time my husband and I were at Starbucks one busy Sunday morning. We were in the drive through before church and the girl at the window recognized us from the Relay for Life event we attended the weekend prior. She was working the Starbucks booth at the fundraiser. We listened to her as she talked about the fundraiser for people affected by cancer and at the moment we shared something in common. We listened to her genuine care for people and her service to the community.

The definition of listen is to make an effort to hear something. I hope that this week you and I will make a conscious decision to hear the people that surround us each day and the people that we encounter. Listen to the genuine concern of the people in your life, listen to the sound of laughter and listen for ways to ensure the success of the people that surround us.

I gave this man my undivided attention as he shared with me and I listened. Maybe the people that are in your life right now have something worth sharing…you just have to listen.