Over the last week, I had the pleasure of attending the ALCA Conference in Birmingham, AL.\u00a0 The conference was hosted by The Sheraton hotel.\u00a0 During this time I visited the vendors area to look at all of the goodies on display.\u00a0 I found a vendor that I knew and saw that she had an item that I had been eyeing for over a year and decided that it was time to bring it home.\u00a0 So, I happily made my purchase and left the room before I lost my mind in there, lol! After I left, I went to the general assembly ballroom to wait for my next session.\u00a0 I went to the back of the room (about 200 ft away) to fill my water bottle and when I turned back around my bag was gone!\u00a0 In the matter of literally two minutes, someone had taken my bag!\u00a0 I immediately notified the conference registration table and left my contact info in the case that someone “turned it in”.\u00a0 I also went to the hotel front desk to ask if someone reported any found items.\u00a0 The front desk clerk reached out to security to check and unfortunately no one had reported anything.\u00a0 She reassured me that she would be on the look out for my item.\u00a0 She told me a story of a similar experience and how she eventually recovered her items.\u00a0 Instead of sending me away, she asked if she could help me look for it.\u00a0 She left the front desk and escorted me to every lost and found closet, coat closet, storage closet.\u00a0 We spoke with the banquet manager and workers to inform them so that they can be on the look out for my bag.\u00a0 The conference staff was on alert as well.\u00a0 I was determined to find my items.\u00a0 After a few hours, we took a break and I grabbed lunch and went to my room.\u00a0 I remembered the message on the back of my shirt, prayed about it, and laid down for a nap before my next session.\u00a0 I told God that if its meant to be then all will be well and I will find it when I wake up.\u00a0 Lo and behold, I woke up to a text message, “We found your bag, come to the registration table”!\u00a0 I immediately went down stairs and got my items! I asked the lady if she knew where they found it, and she told me.\u00a0 Now, the details didn’t add up but that’s neither here nor there.<\/p>\n
The real spotlight to this story is how so many women came together to help me in this quest.\u00a0 From the conference team, to the vendor I purchased it from, and an old co-worker that I ran into; they offered encouragement when my items were taken and they celebrated with me when it was found.\u00a0 We literally did a little praise dance together.\u00a0 But most of all, I am truly grateful for the hotel front desk rep.\u00a0 La’Toria Peterson went out of her way to escort me around this grand hotel to every possible area where it could have been.\u00a0 She followed up with security throughout the day and kept me updated.\u00a0 La’Toria was the true definition of customer service and\u00a0 of “my sisters’ keeper”.\u00a0 I made it a point to speak personally with her manager just to let her know how big of a gem La’Toria is to her team.\u00a0 In those moments, I was reminded of why 4HOPE Haven is so important to me.\u00a0 It’s those moments that others may consider as “little”, that encourgement and celebration are most important.\u00a0 Luke 16:10 states,\u00a0 “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much”.\u00a0 In that little moment of anxiety and disappointment, these women- some of whom I did not know- came together to support me.\u00a0 \u00a0A sisterhood was formed amongst strangers and a connection was established.\u00a0 They proved themselves to be trustworthy with my little problem, and it is my prayer that God trusts them with more!<\/p>\n
I encourage each woman who reads this blog to be on the look out for a sister in need.\u00a0 Be ready to give an encouraging word, a listening ear, or a simple healing hug! We are all equipped to be a light to our sisters.\u00a0 Let’s do what we do best and impact the world!!! Please come back here and tell us how you shared your light in someone’s life; we can’t wait to celebrate with you!!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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