A couple of virtual strangers recently did some very kind things for me and it was completely unsolicited on my part. A man sent me an e-mail and wanted to know if I was interested in buying the URL, HoneyLake.com. When we first incorporated I tried to buy that name, but it was already taken, so I settled for HoneylakePlantation.com which is obviously much longer and more cumbersome for folks to type when contacting us. Thus I leaped at the chance to buy it, and immediately wrote him back and told him that I would be happy to purchase it.
The next day he wrote me and told me that he was going to give me the URL as in free of charge, instead of selling it to me.
Huh?
He told me later that he looked at the link below my name on the e-mail I sent him and perused my websites at: www.WilliamsongroupUSA.com After reading my testimony and seeing what I do with it, he decided to just give me the URL.
A few weeks later one of the most successful and powerful women in the country came to a marketing meeting/retreat at Honey Lake Resort and Spa and stayed for several days meeting with some of her high end clients. I knew of her company, but didn’t know her personally. I did know the leadership of the firm with whom she was meeting and they briefly introduced me to her one evening.
A couple of days later I was in our restaurant and her group was eating lunch. She came over to me and gave me her business card and told me that she owned one of the largest advertising and marketing companies in the world and she wanted to help put Honey Lake on the map. I knew that there was no way our fledgling start-up company could afford her huge company’s services, but I smiled and politely thanked her anyway.
Then she said something very odd, she told me that she wanted to assemble her company’s best hospitality experts and along with herself meet with my team to give us ideas on how to properly market Honey Lake. Then she added, “And I’m not going to charge you one penny for it, and I’m not trying to obtain your future business either, I just want to help”!
Huh?
The best part of this story is that while it sounds too good to be true, it was true. Yesterday we met with them and they did just that; the meeting was simply outstanding! Our marketing coordinator, my son and I met with her and her large team of the finest experts in the marketing world for over two hours and they systematically and professionally gave us valuable information for virtually every vertical market to whom we cater. The information that they provided will undoubtedly help us to get the word out concerning gorgeous Honey Lake and thereby enable us to grow our company.
At the conclusion of the meeting she wouldn’t even allow me to buy her lunch.
Hmmm . . . This seems puzzling eh?
Several years ago I went through a toll booth on the Florida turnpike and when I tried to pay, the lady told me the gentleman in the car in front of me already paid my toll. At the next toll both I did likewise for the car behind me (and I have continued doing this for many years).
When I turned my rental car in I got a shoe shine at the airport and handed the guy a hundred dollar bill and told him to keep the change. It was Christmas time and the man began crying as he thanked me, telling me he didn’t know how he was going to buy his son toys for Christmas. He was thrilled!
I just smiled and headed for the gate. I was still smiling when I boarded my plane back to Atlanta.
So, if you would like to smile today, but have to sigh because the world is pressing you down just a bit, why not do something nice for someone else today. Sometimes it helps to take the focus off yourself and your myriad of problems and help others to solve theirs.
Stop and think about the people you encounter on a daily basis in your avenues of life; an elderly lady sitting by herself, a homeless person digging cans out of a trashcan, or someone you know struggling with something that you can easily solve. Some of them may smell of life’s knocks and bad choices but they are human beings and deserving of God’s grace. Consider giving – not taking – helping not hurting – loving not hating – granting forgiveness – not holding a grudge; be a Child of God and an imitator of faith, hope and love. Who knows in so doing you might even entertain an angel of God almighty!
Hebrews 13:2
Do not neglect hospitality, for through it some have unknowingly entertained angels.