Disappointment

Sometime people can just let you down. In fact it doesn’t have to be a person. Just last week we came home after being out later than usual only to find that our good-dog Jim had taken a pound cake off the kitchen counter, unwrapped it neatly, ate half of it, and, unable to rewrap and put it back on the counter, he just left it on the floor and waited for us by the door. As soon as we came through that door he took off like a shot and hid for a half an hour. Two nights later, I couldn’t sleep so I got up to do some reading only to find good-dog Jim on my new love seat sound a sleep. He disappointed me. It happens.

***************************************

December 2005

Robin Rosebrough, who was overseeing our sales, and I had been working on trying to find the best ways to market The Amazing Collection. We had met with outstanding businessmen whose tremendous advice was so helpful and appreciated. But we really needed someone to take on the marketing and do it for us!

John Eames, our dear friend and literary agent, came into town and so we were able to meet with him at some length. He listened carefully and then said he would like to see if one of his acquaintances who he knew in Nashville would meet with us. John said Mr. X (as I will call him) was a marketing genius. He knew everything about marketing and he knew everyone in the industry. John told us he would see if he could set up a meeting. So a week later we received a call! Mr. X indeed would meet with us in Nashville on November 30!

It was decided that Robin and I would make the trip and so the two of us drove up in the morning arriving at John Eames’ house just before our scheduled appointment. We jumped in John’s car and drove to the restaurant, a quiet and lovely place perfect for the meeting.

I understand business men do this all the time but we were still seeing ourselves mainly as homemakers and wives and moms. All of this was pretty heady stuff and to say we were excited and nervous is an understatement. Had we been getting ready to meet the president I don’t think we would have been more excited and awestruck.

Mr. X proved to be all we hoped he would be and more. He was very sanguine, so warm and friendly right from the first handshake. He was gracious and kind and asked a million questions…all that we enjoyed answering! (It is always a heady experience to recount the history of Big Dream because every time we do our God gets more grand and powerful as we relive the many great and awesome miracles.)

After over an hour of answering, he seemed genuinely impressed. And then he began to talk and when he did he painted incredible pictures of all that he would do for us. He wanted us to meet with the VP of one of the largest Christian publishers in the country and he just happened to know him personally. He continued, telling us how this study was a goldmine and that if the meeting with the VP did not go well then there was a Plan B and a Plan C. He would see that we were well taken care of in the marketing arena and he wanted to do it all for free!

The meeting lasted two and a half hours. At the end, we said good-bye to our new best friend Mr. X, John drove us back to our car and Robin and I headed home. I do think we could have flown home without any help from a car or plane. We were ecstatic and overwhelmed with all of Mr. X’s good promises! We had found such favor in his eyes and he had promised us so many wonderful “gifts”! His talent and marketing passion was JUST what we needed! We felt as if all of heaven had opened up and poured such rich blessings on us. And we couldn’t wait to have the chance to meet with the very important VP and the see if we needed to go to plan B or plan C! What a meeting! What a day! What a promise!

That was the last we ever heard from Mr. X.

Sometimes people disappoint. But God never does.

The Lord is righteous in her midst

He never fails.

Zephaniah 3:5