Many years ago in 1995, our world was turned upside down with the news that our oldest son had a Brain Tumor the size of a lemon. He was just nine years old. With this news, our son was taken from an MRI machine to a bed in the ICU. The doctors said they were unable to explain why this child was even alive due to the water on his brain!
The brain tumor would require immediate surgery and a six week hospital stay. Radiation would begin the following week each day for an additional six weeks. Chemotherapy would start before radiation was through and it would take nine months to complete the chemotherapy regimen prescribed. This began an unbelievable trip through everything from despair and anguish to fear and disbelief. It created chaos and stress while racking up unbelievable medical bills and 180 nights that my son and I slept at Primary Children’s Hospital in eleven months!
This was a time of extreme overwhelm and frustration and yet at the same time we were able to experience peace, joy and love in a huge way as we implemented and lived two of the traits I teach. As we lived our lives with Gratitude and as we learned a new way to SHOW Sincere Service it began to create a way for our own nightmare to become livable. When we were able to see beyond ourselves and embrace serving others, a heavy weight was lifted! I share our signature story of a Mylar balloon and our willingness to do Service regardless of our own situation and how our lives were changed by this.
I teach 7 Traits to Create Your Thriving Life and in it I give you the tools that will literally change your life if you will just follow them. These traits seem simple, but they are profound. When you understand the complexity of each of them in a new light, you will see dramatic changes as you implement them daily. If you have not yet received our 7 Traits video series as your complimentary gift, I suggest you do so! It is easy and it is free! Just go to www.allthingspossible.biz and join our community!
This was not the end of our trials, but rather more like the beginning. This was our first fight with cancer for our son Jesse and was not the last. In fact, the second fight came at the age of 25 for him. He broke his back and 10 weeks later was diagnosed with another brain tumor. This brain tumor was committed. It grew back twice! He had to have 3 surgeries in just 5 months. In just seven months total, Jesse endured a broken back, three brain tumor removal surgeries, loss of hearing due to complications from surgery, complete loss of sight in his right eye and radiation! Yet, while enduring this horrific time in his life, and being in the biggest hole you can imagine, he was serving others, lifting others and being grateful for all that he had. You can see him in this picture, in a deep hole, yet…he is happy. Happiness really is a choice and it is easy to choose when you are filled with Genuine Gratitude and Sincere Service!
It was definitely through these tough challenges that I realized the significance that Sincere Service could have and how it shows up in all that we do. It doesn’t have to be just when we are faced with horrific trials, perhaps it is just the challenges that we face each and every day.
I teach that there are two types of service; Simple Service & Sincere Service. Let me explain what I mean by putting all service in these two categories.
First is Simple Service: In my book this is something that we do daily. It is expected, even required. Such as: you choose to be in a relationship/marriage; you choose to serve that person regularly. You choose to be a parent; you have chosen to serve that child for the rest of your life! You sign up or agree to do a community/church position or be on a committee, it will come with service, or you have accepted a job and it comes with a considerable amount of service in working with other people! Simple Service can look like this:
- Feeling obligated
- Feeling guilty
- Feeling it is required
- Can feel like it takes a ton of effort
Second is Sincere Service: How I describe sincere service is when you feel it deep within your heart. You are changed by doing this service and are a better person for having done it. It raises your character. It is giving superior service to others. It is doing something for someone else that they cannot do for themselves. It is treating a customer good because it is what is in their best interest. It is showing Gratitude for your client because you genuinely care about them. Sincere service can look like this:
- Raises your character
- Moves you forward/what you put out you get back multiplied
- Builds relationships
- Creates Loyalty and Gains Respect
- Comes naturally and you look for ways to create it
With all of this said and done, I break Sincere Service down with the acronym SHOW. I know that when we SHOW Sincere Service, it gets in deep into our heart and becomes part of us. It helps you to become the person you want to be. It improves relationships, creates bonds, brings abundance, heals you, creates loyalty and respect, empowers you, teaches you and raises your character. It simply changes you.
This is how I break down SHOW:
- Sacrifice
- Humble
- Operate
- Willing
It may not jump right out to you how I use these words to create a different outcome, just by seeing the words. Watch this 15 minute video fro my explanation of these words and the action behind them. I break it down quickly and easily for you. If you are willing to do things a little differently and implement this concept on a deep level, you will see dramatic results! It is time to SHOW Sincere Service on new levels!