FFA mottos are the foundation of everything I do. I’m always learning new ways of doing things and doing things to learn better. I’m also earning to live better and serving to help others live better. While I’ve reached frequent flyer status in all of them, living to serve is my all-time fave.
At a very young age, my farmer father set the example of serving others. That along with spending 25+ years in 12-step rooms, I became a Living to Serve kinda gal. Serving others has become the core of everything I think, feel, and do. For me, it’s all about you.
Recently, I had a fun FFA opportunity to serve some servant leaders.
And when things didn’t go exactly as planned, funny lessons (both ha-ha and strange) were learned from Living to Serve:
- Be ready to receive:
After being a guest speaker for the Bastrop FFA, I surprisingly received a Certificate of Appreciation at their Awards Banquet. I was so honored and proud, I put it on my fridge! Heck, I might even put it on my resume.
I had been thinking there had to be more opportunities out there that would allow me to do some more living to serve. I’m a firm believer that we bring about what we think about. Then, outta nowhere, FFA Officer awesome Aubrey gave me insider information about other summertime FFA festivities.
I left ready to receive my next ag adventure!
Finding the FFA Area XII District Leadership Conference was a total God thing-perfect timing-because I only stumbled onto it about a week before it started. And, it was just 20 minutes up the road, which is a big deal because I live in the sticks! I quickly emailed the coordinator and asked if they needed any volunteers.
I thought: I could help decorate, hand out nametags, serve sammiches…
30 minutes later, I was scheduled to speak…the very next week?!
Lessoned learned: Be ready to receive because opportunities can come outta nowhere!
- Be ready to go with the flow
Not sure you know, but God has perfect timing and a sense of humor. Sometimes when you’re Living to Serve, manure happens, and you gotta just go with the flow.
The day I was to speak, my sweet FFA informant, Bailey, notified me that they were having serious technical difficulties. The PA system was working, but it was iffy- my guess, the Texas heat-I might have to speak up.
No big deal. I thought for once, I won’t get in trouble for using my outside voice inside!
But an iffy PA also meant there was no wireless mic. Now, I’m no J-Lo, but I am pretty animated, a little ADHD, and a bit of a rebel, so I’d rather not be tethered. However, one of my speaking points was going to be Great Traits to have and flexibility was at the top of my list.
I figured I better practice what I preach, go with the flow, and corded, if I had to.
When I got there, the heat was also shorting out the A/C. Kind of a big deal when you live in Texas. Bailey was probably skeered that if she told me, I might have tucked-tail and ran.
Industrial fans did kick in, giving the room some sort of airflow. But because the fans were working overtime, and I wasn’t the only hot air in the room. Even using my outside voice was tough. It sounded like I was under a flight path.
To some, all of this could have been a big deal. But as I looked out into the sea of friendly FFA faces, I thought if they can tough it out, so can I! Therefore, I cowgurl’d up and proceeded to scream, and sweat, from the stage.
Lesson learned: Manure happens; sometimes you just gotta go with the flow.
- Be prepared, ALWAYS:
As a former, good Girl Scout, I decided to make darn sure to always be prepared! Next morning, I jumped on Amazon and ordered my own 5,000-watt karaoke machine; wireless mic included. Still debating on a portable a/c unit…
Lesson learned: Learn from your opportunities, for the next time, figure out how to do things more effectively, and if you have to, be willing to carry a karaoke machine!
I was so thankful for the opportunity to serve such servant leaders. Next time, I may be sweating from the stage, but with my own portable PA system with wireless mic, at least I won’t be screaming or tethered. Now, I might be belting out some old George Strait songs…
I am ready to receive my next ag adventure! Have karaoke machine, will travel.