YOU were born for such a time as this...

There's a story in the Old Testament about this Jewish lady named Esther who became a queen, her uncle Mordecai, a king, and an evil man named Haaman...Esther, a young Jewish virgin won the king's heart, and he married her.  Haaman hated Mordecai and devised a plot to have him killed...and not only him, but the ENTIRE Jewish race.  Because the king did not know that Mordecai and his niece Esther (now the king's wife) were Jewish, he was tricked by Haaman into setting forth an irrevokable decree that would enable Haaman to successfully eliminate his rival enemy, Mordecai (and as just stated, the ENTIRE Jewish race, INCLUDING Esther.  When Mordecai discovered the plot, he told the queen (Esther), and before leaving her prescence, stated, "Esther, YOU were BORN for SUCH a TIME as THIS...and when SHE got a hold of this VERY PROFOUND statement of TRUTH, she did not let her uncle and Jewish race down, and ultimately, and cleverely devised a plan that ultimately left Haaman hanging on the gallows he had constructed for Mordecai's demise...instead of what ended up being his own...

Meagan (Richardson) Stacy (Mesquite), Sarah (15 year old from Mesquite who overcame her fear and rode on the back of my motorcycle carrying a pizza), Halley (8 year old I met in Tyler with her mom who were from Massechutes), Mike (Bullard, TX), Gina (Canton), James (Bullard), Secretary for Principal Sherri Randall (G.W. Cain Elementary, Whitehouse), 2 employees of Taco Shack (Canton), Reagan, Stacy, Jody, Lauren and at least a dozen or more others I met TODAY....YOU too were BORN for SUCH a TIME as THIS...

Meagan, YOU are an OVERCOMER and have what you need INSIDE to be VERY successful...No matter how many mistakes you have made, or THINK you have made, you have ALSO made some VERY good choices...You KNOW what to do...so do it :-)  Stacy, you have NOT lost everything and ONE of the things YOU have, NOBODY can take away from you...that is what is INSIDE of you and is what makes you who you are...You also have achieved something VERY important...COMPLETING a degree program INSPITE of your CIRCUMSTANCES...YOU TOTALLY ROCK, GIRL...Sarah, remember what WE talked about on the bike and what WE struggle with...God gave us TWO ears and ONE mouth for REASON...to LISTEN twice as much as WE talk...Silence and Listening will also help you think before you talk...and hit...and keep you out of a LOT of trouble...You are VERY brilliant and YOU can do whatever you set your mind to do...Halley...you are such a grown up lady for your age...you keep reading, listening to your mom and dad, and enjoying life to the fullest and you WILL do well!!!  Mike, keep thinking positively, and stay connected to your awesome circle of friends, and you, too will CONTINUE to be very successful...I particulary enjoyed learning about the 100 year grocery store and you showing me the exact spot where a 500 lb previous shop owner literally wore a hole in the floor due to her weight and pacing...James, what can I say?  You ARE a salesman, but you have ALSO learned the art of listening AND customer service, a combination that is very, very rare to find these days...Gina, you are truly an angel placed in my path today...THANK YOU so much for feeding a stranger who literally had a quarter in his pocket...and you were right...those tacos were absolutely the best tacos I have EVER had!!!  "Miss Secretary", I am sorry for forgetting your name, but THANK YOU so MUCH for your help in connecting me with your principal and librarian, and I look forward to returning and personally (and publically) thanking you for your part in helping me distribute 50,000+ of my first books to libraries and schools across TEXAS and 10 NATIONS...The two employees at Taco Shack in Canton, TX...your customer service and taco making skills are truly ART...Wow...that lemon juice and the mix of spices made today truly an historic experience!!! Reagan, Stacy, Jody, Lauren, YOU are ALL SILVER STARS and ALL possess OVER THE TOP customer service and problem solving skills...Don't tell your bosses this YET...but someday...hopefully SOON...I would love ALL of you to work for me...In fact, when I have enough cash flow in one or more of my companies to support the hiring of staff, I would be honored to have ALL you "Esthers" work for me...You ALL totally ROCK...and I am thankful to the God I serve that He placed me in YOUR paths today....