Life is a Blessing... indeed!

By Tracy McCoy

Iwanted to share my Laurel story. How did I, a hairstylist, become the Laurel lady? This is a question I’ve asked myself over the years. You’ve heard it said, “Be careful what you pray for.” This is that kind of story.

In 2003 a book was recommended to me. The book was a small book written by Bruce Wilkinson. When I was told I should read it, I smiled politely and said “yeah, I’ll look for it.” My intentions were good but finding time to read was and still is something I find difficult. After the third person asked “Hey, have you read the Prayer of Jabez?” I went and bought the book.

I had never heard of Jabez, much less his prayer. The book was a quick read and I was inspired to pray the same prayer that Jabez prayed. The scripture where you will find this fella’s prayer is 1 Chronicles 4:9-10. It is tucked in amongst a series of “who begat who” verses. The passage reads “Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, ‘Because I bore him in pain.’ And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, ‘Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!’ So God granted him what he requested.”

Some speculate that Jabez was asking for prosperity, others that he was asking for a portion of land based off of God’s promise to Abraham, others believe he wanted to serve God in a greater way. For me the prayer had a different meaning. I love to share my faith, to tell you how good God has been to me. To tell you the difference that Jesus has made in my life. I had a busy salon and saw 15 people or more a day. If the opportunity arose I would stop halfway through a haircut, put my scissors down and talk to my client about Jesus. Nobody is going to get up halfway through a haircut and leave, or at least none of my people did. So I had a captive audience even if for just a short while. This salon, that chair and that client was my territory. So when I began to pray for God to bless me, enlarge my territory, that He would keep me from evil that I would not cause pain. I was asking God to give me more people to tell about His love and grace.

I prayed Jabez’s prayer for almost a year. If God granted his request, maybe he would hear my prayer.

I thought that I would stand behind that chair and cut hair until I got to old to do it or fell over. I loved doing hair, my customers were like family and I never saw myself doing anything else. Like a whirlwind, my family’s circumstances changed and I needed to make a change. My feet, legs and back hurt most days (tip your hairstylist well, because theirs probably do too by the end of the day). I called my friend Janet Cummings and asked if she was hiring at the Rabun’s Laurel. I had read the Laurel because my friend Robin Welch had sold me ads for the salon. I knew the magazine worked because I’d advertised in it. She came to see me and we talked. I sold my salon, was hired to sell advertising and traded my scissors and comb for a clipboard and box of magazines and hit the road.

For twenty plus years I had been in the shop for 10+ hours a day, I had no idea how many amazing places there were on backroads all across the mountains. I was good at two things, doing hair and talking. I rarely meet a stranger so this job was perfect for me. I had a strong belief in my product, and I still do. The Laurel is a wonderful vehicle to get your message out. One day when I told a potential advertiser that very thing it hit me…“ to get your message out”.

I asked Janet if we could expand what was a list of churches to include articles from Pastors and other people. It was November of 2004 and I wrote an article titled Life is a Blessing about thankfulness. We added just a little bit here and there. I sit here with tears in my eyes when I think about the way that God answered my request to enlarge my territory. Now instead of an opportunity to share my faith in Him with 15 people a day, I now had the chance to reach thousands with the love of Christ. He has blessed me, not with money, but with people. He walks with me daily and He protects me. I wish I could say I’ve never hurt anyone, I am human and while I try to do good everywhere I go, I am sure that I have failed but if I have, please forgive me. I continue to be a work in progress. God is faithful, pray Jabez’s prayer and watch what God will do in your life. Life is a blessing as the Laurel lady.