One Point For The Mail Box
Fourteen years ago we moved from a city-suburb atmosphere to the country. Unaccustomed to the challenges, I came to accept we needed 4-wheel drive, 55 mph IS the speed limit in front of my house, a snow plow and quad are necessary items and The Mail Box is not necessarily a permanent fixture.
The winter snow can leave us stranded until the County Snow Plows make their way out to us. For several years in a row the operator of the road plow clocked our mail box and sent it flying. Once, my husband, so exasperated bellowed out, “Could you at least pick it up and return it to the general vicinity?”
Afterward, he determined to make an invincible mail box that wasn’t going to shatter when the plow hits it. Being a talented and artistic welder I eagerly awaited my new mail box. I couldn’t wait to see what he would come up with.
He made the ugliest utilitarian black box I ever had the misfortune to gaze upon.
I hated it.
I couldn’t believe in all the years of watching him make the most beautiful gifts for family and friends, I get this black box. For years I’ve directed guests to my home to look for the ugliest black mailbox stuck on a thick round post and you’ll find me.
This weekend, for my birthday, my husband totally handcrafted the loveliest mailbox I could ever have dreamed. My daughters pitched in with the painting of this multi-vine creation complete with a bird, butterfly and a caterpillar holding a red flag to alert the mailman I have mail to send. I couldn’t be more pleased.
I think of a conversation a friend had with Tom “Big Al” Schreiter. Tom told him it didn’t matter if you bought your wife a bouquet of flowers or a house, you get ONE Point. For each and every effort you do for another, no matter how large or small, you really only get One Point. The trick is to keep filling up your “bowl” with enough points so when you fall short and a point is taken away, you still have enough points in the bowl to redeem yourself.
I give my husband One Point for the mailbox but it makes me think of all the efforts I’ve done in reaching out to help others.
I’m reminded you can’t stop just because you scored One Point; You do a good deed, contribute once to a charity of your choosing, put a donation in at the food pantry during a seasonal campaign, help a person one day in their business and because it was well received and you got One Point, what happens the next day?
A good leader will continually strive to earn One Point as often as possible. It’s ok to fall short or make a mistake because your making a conscious effort to fill your bowl.
Every day we have a chance to make One Point with someone. We can make a difference when we reach out, offer our expertise to someone who needs us, listen to someone who needs us to listen, mentor someone who reaches out for help.
Today I Encourage You to begin the process and fill Your Bowl, One Point at a time; I can Help. Start here and this Ebook will point the way.
