I love a good story. I love when things have meaning to why they became. It's fun to hear what the reasons were behind someone naming their child, their dog, or their business. Often, I am asked where the name of my shop came from; For Such A Time. And, if I am being honest, there were times towards the beginning that I often wondered if it would be a name that would prove itself and become something great. I doubted it. I thought to change it. And now, after proving itself time and time again, I know that my shop was destined to be named For Such A Time.
"For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews
will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish.
And who knows but that you have come to your royal position
for such a time as this?" - Esther 4:14
The story of Esther from The Bible has always been a favorite of mine after studying it with a beautiful group of woman the Summer right after I was married. When I thought of opening an Etsy shop, the name For Such A Time kept coming to the front of my mind and nothing else would stick quite like it. So, in an informal, yet strong kind of way, it became the name of my shop.
It always astounds me how Scripture can bring about different ideas and lessons to different people. Every so often I will get an email from someone sharing a story of how that name just stopped them in their tracks and brought about a time in their life that they remember that verse from. I love when that happens and love how the name of my shop does that to people.
However, there is an even deeper meaning to my shop name that
brings SUCH JOY to my heart. And I want to share that with you.
First and foremost, I am not saying that I think I am in a "royal position" in a royalty sense. But, I do feel that I am in a position that allows me the opportunity to be trusted by people, a leadership type role, that causes the details of their life to come through in our discussion.
I feel as though I have been given a job, even beyond stamping spoons and forks for the various events in peoples lives... I have been given moments. Moments to serve. Moments to reach beyond the product and the transaction, and to reach into peoples lives when I feel it is appropriate to do so.
I think of a time that I was partnering with SkinnyTaste 2 years ago and I was reading through countless comments on what their favorite thing from my shop was. One comment hit me hard. A woman talking of her father, whom had since passed, but was her hero. She wanted the Dear Dad, I Love You spoon, so that she could remember him every time she used it. As a woman with an amazing father myself, my heart ached for her. I wanted to do something. So, with the best intentions, I managed to find her online and got an address that I was sure was hers. I made the spoon with a note and sent it on its way. About a week later, I heard from her and she sent me the most beautiful letter, that I still have to date. It blessed me to create something so meaningful to her.
Fast forward to 2013. Another situation of a husband and wife wanting desperately to bring life into this world together. There have been a few failed attempts. And I have created flatware for each announcement that they have made. I recently shared on Facebook, asking for prayer for this couple and so far the baby is healthily growing inside of this beautiful woman. I am blessed that she keeps me updated and I am able to walk along side her as she goes through these moments. I feel like For Such A Time, her life is something that I am called to. I was given an opportunity to love on her and be there for her as best as a "stranger" can. I absolutely LOVE that my job allows me to move beyond the business and create friendships with people of whom I probably never would have known otherwise.
Lastly, I think of every conversation I share with someone. A moment. An opportunity to shine. To allow my heart to show grace and joy to each person who contacts me. I've said it before, it's more than a business to me. It's community. It is an opportunity to bring two different lives together for a moment to cross paths For Such A Time and my deepest prayer is that each persons life that I am able to cross paths with through my business would feel something different. That they would know that I truly care and am honored to have the opportunity to know a moment of their life.
As my business is growing rapidly, I am facing pressing decision making on how to maintain my heart and passion for my business, while still keeping up with the demands. At times I get overwhelmed. I feel lucky and blessed that so many people love my product. It's a beautiful problem to have, but still a "problem" that I need to deal with as I continue to grow. I hope soon to add someone to the team to help me a few times a week to take some of the burden off of me with different things - though, as one follower said to me this morning,
"hiring is hard enough, but I can't imagine how challenging it would be to find someone to help with something so near and dear to my heart!"
And it's true. I want the person that I find to understand my heart and desires for my business and to desire to be a part of that! I am excited, though it's bittersweet not to be able to do EVERY portion of my business. But - it will allow me to focus even more on the things that I have written about above.
I feel lucky.
Lucky that I have had so much success with this business I have created that it allows me to serve people and be a part of their life. And, for anyone reading this,.. I feel lucky that our paths have crossed and invite you to continue along the journey with me. My Facebook page for my business is one of my favorite places and I try very hard to create a place of community there. I hope that if you are not a follower already, you will join the others there and enjoy LIFE with me.
with love,
Aly
