Some professions get a bad rap.

If you've ever been on a college campus, you know that staff members in the Office of Financial Aid are the source of most students' frustration.  There are deadlines that must be met, steps to follow, and a million and one ways not to meet students' expectations.  The IRS, come to think of it, is similar.  No one raves about their experience with the IRS (or Financial Aid).  If the experience is a good one - it's what was expected.  But if the experience is a bad one, well then, we knew it all along.  The staff members are incompetent and either, they don't understand or they don't care.  Regardless, we can't wait to rant about our horrible experience.

Dentists fall into this same unfortunate category.  Rich, poor, tall, short, man, woman - the dread of going to the dentist is one of life's greatest equalizers.

So imagine how good a dentist must be in order to qualify for the House of Shine's, Yellow Envelope Project.  The words, "dentist" and "shine," I would venture to say, are rarely used in the same sentence.

Until now.

Check out what our nominator had to say:

"My husband and I have tried several dentist in the area over the last few years for our children. We have finally found a keeper! Dr. Pace shines!! From the moment we walked into her office she made the girls, and us, feel comfortable. She was informative and direct. I like that! She made sure we knew what her role was in a sweet yet firm manner. She also gave us some valuable information that no other dentist we had visited had taken the time to do. Our girls walked in and out of the office with a smile on their face. She and her staff made them feel welcome. She is present! I believe that God puts us on this earth with a gift and I am certain she has discovered hers!!!" 

You could live a lifetime hoping to hear those same words uttered about you, couldn't you?  "God puts us on earth with a gift and I am certain she has discovered hers!"  How affirming.  How validating.  Imagine knowing with such certainty and clarity that the occupation - and all the schooling and preparation involved with it - was your perfect calling.  Imagine.

Imagine a pediatric dentist so good, so committed, and so aligned with her calling that a whole generation of young people, living in the area, get to grow up without fear of the dentist.

Imagine. 

Now imagine Dr. Pace opening her mailbox mid next week only to find 20, 30, 40 anonymous letters of gratitude sitting inside.  Imagine how appreciated and warm she will feel after reading our notes of thanks.  Thank you for being passionate about your work.  Thank you for going the extra mile with your patients.  Thank you for realizing that being great at your work inspires someone else to be great at their work.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Participating is easy.  Write Dr. Pace a short note.  Seal it in a yellow envelope (or a white one decorated with yellow markers or stickers).  Write the words, "Yellow Envelope Project" in the return address and send it to the address below.  Commit to mailing it sometime early in the week and then meet us back here next Saturday when we recognize another worthy recipient.

One letter, multiplied by countless committed partners spread all over country.  Imagine the collective difference that our individual letters make.  Imagine the Planet Powered by Shine.  

Imagine.

Shining off until Monday...