<i>Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. -Isaiah 58:9</i> - Jack Canfield

One day when I was out walking on an early January morning, the brisk air had quickened my pace and I felt invigorated to repeat out loud The Prayer of Jabez, which I’d recently read. It was helping me reconnect with God. I came to the passage which says, “And Jabez called upon God of Israel saying, ‘Oh that You would bless me indeed.’” The author’s interpretation of this particular section was that God was waiting to shower us with blessings, big ones; all we need is the courage to ask, as Jabez did. Well, I substituted the name of Jabez for mine and added a few twenty-first century verses of my own. I said, “And Karen called upon God of Israel saying, ‘Oh that You would bless me indeed.’ Pile it on, God — give it to me — heap it on — sock it to me — sock it to me — sock it to me!” Okay God, if you are listening, show me a sock! I knew it was silly, but I needed something, anything, to know He was listening. I walked a few feet ahead and glanced to my left at a snow bank. There lying in the snow, next to the curb, was a wet dirty sock. Not a comb, not a glove, but one sock. Now, I have the proof that God does listen, that He can be spontaneous and humorous. That day, not only did I take home one slightly used sock, but a renewed faith in God.

Behind every great achievement is a story of education, training, practice, discipline and sacrifice. You have to be willing to pay the price.

IT’S NOT WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW THAT HOLDS YOU BACK; IT’S WHAT YOU DO KNOW THAT ISN’T TRUE