Well, hello, my friends, and welcome to the Live Inspired podcast Monday morning moments with John O'Leary.

As you know by now, we record these each and every week so that you and I can begin

our weeks in awe and on fire with a burst of inspiration. Our dear buddy, Frederick Bouchner, says this.

Vocation is the place where your deep gladness meets the world's need. It's not my job. It's not my job. This is a sentence my children are not allowed to

utter when asked to do a job around our house. It's also a sentence, I would imagine, you will rarely

hear from a small business owner striving to claw their way forward or a committed employee

trying to make a difference or a community member striving to claw their way forward or a committed employee trying to make a difference

or a community member striving to lift up others.

And for Susan Cliff Gisdlinson, it's a sentence she refuses to utter because she's far

more interested in living her vocation than merely doing some job, actively involved in the community, welcoming every

single attendee by name as a greeter up at her church, being a loving mom, a caring sister,

supportive daughter, and a devoted spouse. To those who know her, Susan is celebrated for using

her gifts to always elevate others.

Working within her family insurance agency for 40 years, one of her clients,

gentleman named Ken McGee, owned a family funeral business.

Whenever she would visit, Susan could not help but be in awe of the open-hearted love that

he showed to the families who would come to them in time of great grief and profound loss.

Finding herself on the receiving end of that love after her father passed away,

Susan was blown away by the humble compassion that she was shown.

Ken cared for the entire family and attended to every single detail, all while staying ever

present in the background during her family's most difficult moments.

It's not the kind of thing that takes away the pain, is it?

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