Last week, Horizon Point founder and president, Mary Ila Ward, was recognized with an ATHENA Leadership Award by the Decatur-Morgan County Chamber during their annual Women in Business Celebration. Her speech deeply resonated with so many women (and men) in attendance, so today we are sharing her words with all of you.
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Thank you for this honor. I am humbled. Many of the women who have won this award are women I look up to and who have been instrumental in shaping a community I love through their servant leadership. 

Thank you to the Chamber and its staff.  It is a joy to work with each of you. 

Thank you to my team at Horizon Point for nominating me.  I don’t take lightly what a rarity and privilege it is to get to work day in and day out with such wonderful people who are family.  Taylor, Lorrie, Jillian and Emily- you live out all of our organizational values day in and day out, but this year you have shown me what it truly means to put People First and Give Back.  Thank you for putting me first and giving back to me so fiercely this year when I have needed it the most. 

There are so many friends in and out of this room to which I will always be grateful for- that have supported me both personally and professionally.  Thanks especially to Whitney and Cindy. 

Thank you to our past, present, and future clients in and out of this room.  We love innovating the workplace with you. 

Many of you know that I pretty much hit the jackpot with parents. My parents have been a constant source of support in all seasons of my life and shown what it means to be servant leaders in the community and at home. 

My in-laws have always been there for me and our family and have always supported us in big and small ways.  Thank you for letting me marry your son. 

Two of my children are here today.  We spared you all the joy of the five year old being here because he would probably be right up here with me wanting to entertain you all- we opted for him to stay at Pre-K for nap time instead. Paige and Andrew, along with your little brother, you are my reason for breathing most days and a constant source of joy.  Thank you for being you. 

Drew- man- you are my rock and my better half, thank you. You have always supported my career and community endeavors and been my biggest cheerleader.  I don’t know what I would do without you. 

The sentiment of Luke 12:48- to whom much is given much is required- has always been a guiding principle in my life.  As you can see by the cloud of witnesses I have mentioned and many more I have not, I have been given much. So much. 

But I turned 40 this year, and yall, it has kicked my tail.  Forty don’t play or at least with me it hasn’t. Chasing down the “requirements” for 40 years has taken a toll.  I’ve had a year of personal and professional challenges I’d never imagined. Even volunteer leadership opportunities throughout the year have been especially heavy.  And the weight of all of this together has left me spinning. 

When you feel helpless trying to help the people and the things that you care about the most, sometimes the serenity prayer isn’t all that can pull you through. And the weight of doing what is required of you can’t either. 

I found out I was receiving this award on a Tuesday afternoon in November. The same day, I had been at the doctor all morning. The reality I am in has gotten to the point where I knew it was affecting my health. I left the doctor with a referral to a cardiologist because of a concerning EKG and a prescription for medicine which I thought I would never be one to need. 

So the receiving of this award came at a time where I was just about ready to throw in the towel. All of us, every one of us, is carrying around something that is hard, and if you aren’t now, you have or you will.  Let’s all be there for one another.  

I left the Chamber to pick up my prescription, and as I walked back to the pharmacy, the ice cream cooler caught my eye.  The year has left me not enjoying much, in particular food, so the ice cream cones speaking to me- buy me!- was different.  I hurriedly grabbed them and my prescription and headed home. 

After dinner, my oldest son went to get the ice cream cones out of the freezer for us all to share.  As he opened the box, he pulled one out and said, “Mom, is this what you meant to get?!”  

Yall, I’m all for portion control, but what on earth? As you can see, the cone was literally bite sized.  

We laughed as Andrew tossed one back in a bite and asked if he could have another.  We all had more than one that night. And they were good. 

Psalm 34:8 says “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him.” 

As most of us are professional women sitting here in this room, I imagine you chase a lot of “requirements” as well. The list can be endless. But I hope you will join me as we move into a new year with permission to taste and see what is good. To be the good as conduits of grace and light from our always loving God.  Maybe, just maybe, tasting and seeing the good is the only real requirement of us all. 

My team will have a bite sized ice cream cone for you to savor if you’d like as you leave here today.  “Taste and see that the Lord is good.” The ice cream is good, even if it is just one bite.  And this award is something I am so thankful to savor as well amidst a year of hardships. Thank you for this honor.