Image by mohamed Hassan from Pixabay
There has been a lot of people that have influenced my life. In fact, you can say that I’ve been blessed with an over-abundance of role models and influential friends.
Today, when people meet me, they see a person that is fairly self-assured. Truth be told, however, I wasn’t always.
For the most part, I am overly shy.
Though I’ve overcome my shyness for the most part. I still needed to crawl back into my shell at the end of most days and re-generate.
However, of all the people who, arguably, greatly contributed to my life, there is but one person, today, I credit for my confidence. A man named Mike Lavorata.
The story leading up to my life path becoming entwined with his is long and convoluted.
To make a long story short, let’s just say that one day I found myself in the limelight under the direction of Mike, a wildly enthusiastic man.
Now, there’s nothing more uncomfortable for an introvert, like I was, to be tossed into the limelight — unless you add over-enthusiasm to the mix. But there I was — or should I say we.
For the longest time, I avoided meeting Mike’s wife, though he constantly invited me over for dinner, fearing a double dose of enthusiasm. However, it’s hard to say “no” to Mike, so one day I accepted his invitation.
Finally, I met Mike’s wife, Helen. Much to my surprise, I discovered a soft-spoken and elegantly beautiful, woman of great faith in total contrast with my overly passionate adviser.
At first glance, they appeared to be polar opposites when in reality they were the perfect compliments of each other. That evening I came to see Mike, not as an overly ardent devotee, but as Helen saw him, a person with an enormously large heart with a caring and giving nature.
I realized then what I never realized before…
The platitudes coming from his lips were real. His hugs were sincere. And though I’ve received hugs and compliments my whole life, they were always from someone who I knew; someone who had to love me.
I never really believed in myself.
Finally, I stopped looking at myself through my own eyes and I started looking at myself through Mike Lavorata’s eyes — and I saw the person that he saw, the man I am today!
I’m writing this because, without getting into details, Mike and his wife need your prayers. There’s no other way that I can think of to pay Mike back then to ask those who read my blog to pray for him and his wife — and pray with great devotion.
And, if you are shy, like I am, insecure or lack a lot of confidence like I once was, then find your own Mike Lavorata and look at yourself through his or her eyes.
I promise: you’re going to find someone you really like and another person who is always worth praying for!
UPDATE:
If you would like do more for Mike and his wife, go to MealTrain.com. I will be donating 100% of my profits from my book Corporation YOU to MealTrain.com on behalf of the Lavarata family.
James Henry is also the author of Corporation YOU: A Business Plan for the Soul, 
‘Twas, Hail Mary series, and two children’s books: The Second Prince and Klaus: The Gift-giver to ALL! To contact James or book an interview, please contact Mark of Goldman/McCormick PR at (516) 639-0988 or Mark@goldmanmccormick.com.
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Corporation YOU 