Seeds of Greatness
Column by Lady Catherine Beatty

"Champions inventory their seed more than they inventory their need."¹

For years the only thing I knew how to do was to inventory my needs. Poor old me, look what I have to endure. I wish I had, I wish I could, I wish someone would rescue me. I didn't understand how to acquire happiness.

Then one day, of course not over night, I realized just wishing for it was not the answer. I had to pursue it. Webster's Dictionary defines pursuit as "an activity one engages in... Pursue: to follow, to overtake."

Once I understood it was up to me to secure my own happiness, I began the pursuit. There were a few changes I had to make. Well, lets be real; there were a lot of changes I had to make. The most important and difficult one was my thought life. Inventorying my needs and feeling sorry for myself had to go. Was it a quick process? No. Was it easy? No. Did I have good results? Oh yes!

Everyone is born with seeds of greatness in them. This being a true statement, you might ask, why are some people more successful then others? I believe one of the strongest reasons would be the negative seeds that are that planted in them throughout their lives. If what the health experts say is correct, "You are what you eat", then I say, "You become what you think you are."

There was a great deal of work to be done in my thought life. I had inventoried my needs more then my seeds.

So now the arduous task that laid before me, was to figure out how to dig up the negative seeds (thoughts), and plant and harvest the seeds of greatness.

I began the adventure by feeding my mind with good thoughts.

I read and studied books that presented a positive message. The Bible being the main one. I listened to as many CDs or tapes I could get my hands on that would encourage me. "For as [a man] thinketh in his heart, so is he" (Proverbs 23:7 KJV). That's a powerful statement.

I definitely had to change my heart by changing my thought life.

I started by speaking positive confessions out loud to myself. When a negative thought would try to invade me, I would speak to my mind. I would say, "Listen up, mind. I'll not entertain that thought. It has nothing to do with me. I refuse to let it take root in me." While this may seem silly to some of you, I'm here to testify it works.

"Whatever you currently have, is enough to set anything you want into motion."¹ I wanted to harvest my seeds of greatness and I had enough determination to put these things into motion.

While I feel I've become a champion, a woman of distinction in many areas of my life, the pursuit is not over. It's a journey to be experienced in order to grow more aware of who we are. The more we understand who we are and what our purpose is, the greater the harvest.

Remember, it only takes one seed to produce much fruit. "Whatever you currently have, is enough to set anything you want into motion."¹ The next thing I had to pursue was my seed. What kind of seed or seeds could I harvest from my life that would turn me into a champion, a Woman of Distinction? I was soon to learn that it wasn't a simple task either.

"Your greatest waves of increase, will come out of your greatest wars with faith. Warfare is not the proof that an enemy has entered, it's the proof that increase is about to."¹

You can read more about the pursuit of happiness in my next column. Make it a great day, ladies, and don't forget your seeds of greatness.

¹ J. Konrad Hole, You Were Born A Champion Don't Die A Loser (World Press, 2003).

About the Author:  Lady Catherine has ministered to women for fifteen years. During this time she has been a guest speaker at woman’s conferences and churches. She was the founder of the Women of Distinction Organization, which helped women rise above the poverty level and find their purpose in life. She is a wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. To contact her, send an email to lcbeatty@bellsouth.net.