THE REAL LIFE

My family goes to the most amazing and wonderful dentist in Jackson, Mississippi. He is William L. Boteler, DDS. Hold tight for a moment.....this actually isn't about dentistry.  It's about living the real life.  Let me explain.

Dr. Boteler is definitely great at his work. He has a fantastic practice. I love his office, his employees, and the atmosphere in which he creates. His skill is what he learned, but the spirit that exudes his practice is who he is.  Even the attitude and dispositions of his employees I believe are an extension of Dr. Boteler.  You can feel pure love from everyone. It doesn't feel as though they're simply doing a job. Anybody can do a job, but special people do it well and naturally.

You feel at ease in Dr. Boteler's office even before you reach the chair. There is Christian music softly piped in, beautiful Christian art adorning the waiting room, a Bible in view and amongst other reading material, and an overall stillness about the place.

Then you meet Dr. Boteler and you know why you feel at peace.  He is at peace and it flows out of him like a wave of clouds. Strong, yet gentle. He speaks to you with a calmness that relaxes you.

Dr. Boteler invited my family and I to his church's Christmas Production.  He blessed us with tickets to the show. I saw their production last year on television and knew that it was a true theatrical presentation.  Dr. Boteler told me that he would be serving as an usher, at the door greeting people.

That may not seem like a big deal to anyone other than me, but I was blown away by this. That's because it did not surprise me that he would serve in such a position. Some may say, but he's a professional man. A dentist! A doctor of dentistry. A successful man who has established a fantastic practice.  And I am sure that he is a man who makes an excellent living as far as finances are concerned.  Some would ask, why would he choose to serve in a position that is under-appreciated, flies under the radar, and perhaps not at all appealing to most?

That's just it! Because of my few meetings with Dr. Boteler, I am not surprised at all that he would serve others.  I see this as being the real life for Dr. Boteler. This is not something he learned in dental school.  This is what he's learned as a Christian and a man of faith.

Think of yourself. Perhaps you have a job (thank God) and you have certain skills.  You're probably very good at what you do.  But, there's more to you.  What is it that you do when you don't have to?  What do you always find yourself doing when a need is there?  What is it that you are willing to do without being paid for it?

These things are your real life!  They are you!  They are characteristics of your purpose in life.  Your real life.  It is who you really are.

Dr. Boteler will not be practicing dentistry all of his life. There will come a day when he'll retire.  He may even lose interest in it. He may walk away from it.  But, he will never cease being a servant of God by serving others.  He will most always choose to serve in a position of helping others.  Leading them. Guiding them. Making them comfortable. This is who he is.

I think about my own life. We laugh about it when I tell my children, but this is my experience. From a child, I was always writing or doing some type of organizational work. In fact, it became my "job" to address and mail all of our Christmas cards when I was a girl. Daddy said that I was the "secretary" of the family. Mama encouraged me because she said that I had a great handwriting.  But it was more than that. I took an interest in doing my "job".  I was the one who made sure that we had Christmas cards and I developed the mailing list. I do the same still to this day.

Whenever I was in an organization, I always ended up being the secretary.  I took the Minutes, kept the records, organized and wrote correspondence, etc.

On my paid jobs (secretarial field, of course), I continued doing these things, but also always took care of people.  I made sure that their work got done, and I always had a passion to assure that they were alright even in a spiritual, mental, and emotional way. I began personally writing daily inspirational messages for them because I felt that everyone needed support and encouragement in order to be the best they could be.

I always had a mother hen spirit about me as well. On my desk was always a box of tissue, and a candy dish. I kept aspirin and Tylenol with me. Need a Band Aid? I had one. Needed someone to talk to? I was there.

This is who I am. This is my real life.  I have done this all of my life, and I will always do it because I am who God created me to be.

I'm thankful that a recent visit to Dr. Boteler's office reminded me of this, and definitely confirmed some things in me. God made me as I am for His purpose.  I am not a mistake or a misfit. I'm designed just right, because God made me!  What He planted in me is to be used with gladness and joy. I need to stop second-guessing myself and simply live and enjoy who I am. God doesn't make mistakes.

I am so thankful for my real life!

Blessings,

Carla