Proverbs 25:13 Saves the Day

  After a particularly hellacious week last week (never mind, apparently, that it was Holy Week) that included a truck crashing into our clinic building at work and the sudden death of an old friend, I was really hoping to have a GOOD Monday.  Not necessarily a winning-the-lottery, roses-and-wine kind of day, but just...you know...pleasant.  Sometimes I think my perception of my work day is heavily dependent upon my attitude, which tends toward the bad and the ugly sometimes...but I really think even Mother Teresa would have had a hard time keeping her cool today:

 1.) The minute I walked in this morning, it became immediately clear that the fax machine, which is the bane of my existence first thing on Monday mornings, had jammed over the weekend.  How did I know this, standing 20 feet away in the lobby?  Oh, um...maybe it was because there was not the usual Monday morning REAM of paper sitting on it, mocking me before I have even had a sip of my coffee.  This happily meant that I had to un-jam it and then wait for it to print all the refill requests and medical reports before I could even contemplate finishing pulling all the charts for said reports...which in turn delayed me from doing my usual morning officekeeping chores.  Scrumptious day already.

2.) The phone never...and I mean NEVER...stopped ringing once the answering service was turned off from the weekend.  I kid you not.  Thank goodness we only have two outside lines available to the public or I would have been in a fetal position in the corner mumbling to myself, or either sucking my thumb, by the end of the day.

3.) I won't even go into the widespread derangement syndrome I witnessed today in  people (Full Moon, anyone? Was it?) that further made the day seem increasingly intolerable.  That would be un-Christian.

4.) I had had a vacation day approved weeks ago for this Thursday, because my two youngest children are leaving at approximately 5 am for Orlando with their school band for the weekend.  This means, of course, getting up at about 3 am and getting their last-minute things together, lots of hugs and kisses and Mom-admonitions about being careful, after which of course I will NOT be able to go back to sleep.  After having gone through this last April when our son went for the first time, I had promised myself to take the day off this year so I could relax and not have to go to work on a disrupted sleep pattern.  Well, today I was asked that because our schedule is so heavy on Thursday, would I please reconsider taking the day off?  Well, what could I say...NO?  So kiss the vacation day goodbye...duty calls.  *sigh*

 I was near tears by this time...truly.  I decided to take a VERY quick break and check my e-mail, and I was so glad I did, because God was reaching out to me.  Truly, it was one of those 'God's mysterious ways' moments....I receive a daily devotional e-mail and this one was just what I needed.  It was Proverbs 25:13:  Trustworthy messengers refresh like snow in summer.  They revive the spirit of their employer.  Then the devotional went on to clarify this verse:  It is often difficult to find people you can really trust.  A faithful employee ("messenger") is punctual, responsible, honest, and hardworking.  This person is invaluable as he or she helps to take some of the pressure off his or her employer. (Wow!)  Then, as an admonition to the reader, the devotional writer added, "Find out what our employer needs from you to make his or her job easier, and do it".

 Well, what could I possibly feel after that, after God put His hand on my shoulder and said, "Cool it, kiddo.  You are NEEDED around here....you are good at what you do.  Their asking you to work Thursday is not to rain on your parade, but because they can depend on you to work hard and be a team player to get through the day.  It's a COMPLIMENT.
Job well done, Leigh...and keep it up."   I mean...that was what He was trying to make me see by sending me that particular verse and devotional TODAY...I am NEEDED and a big part of what we do each day at my job, and my diligence and skill really help my sweet employer, who has been so good to me in so many ways.

 My anger dissolved and my attitude improved...oh, not immediately...it took a little while of soaking up what God had said to me...plus a Turtle Fudge sundae from Brusters that a pharmeceutical rep brought in didn't hurt one bit (my waistline might beg to differ).  But by the time we closed up for the day, I was happier, less stressed, less annoyed and really pretty much okay with working Thursday.   I am also filled with hope for a BETTER day tomorrow.  And you know, things could always be so much worse.  I might not even have a job and need one desperately, like so many people out there these days.

 Plus...I really didn't need to use the vacation hours, anyway.  Thanks, God. :)

Good Friday

It's Good Friday, the day Jesus was crucified.  "Good" seems a misnomer, doesn't it?  but yet it IS good...it's beautiful because God loved us soo much that he let His only Son die for us.  For us!  For all of us.  Every last stinking one of us.  No matter how bad we are, no matter what we have done, all we must do is repent, ask for forgiveness and turn our hearts for good, towards Him...and we are saved.

  I have managed to convince the family that we must return to Mass, so we are planning to attend Easter Vigil tomorrow night at St. Michael's.  I was unable to yet talk any of them into going to Reconciliation, or confession, though.  Doing so is an intensely personal decision, though, and they will just come to this as they are ready.  I was ready yesterday when I came home from work.  I was hot, tired from a stressful week at work, one of the most stressful I've had since I went back to work.  However, I felt this strong tug towards the 5 pm Holy Thursday confession session, and so after talking Taylor into going along for mere company on the drive, we set out.

  God placed a friend in the lobby of the church for me to encounter and further strengthen my resolve.  We talked and she was so kind and encouraging about what I was doing, and we planned to see one another on Saturday night at the Vigil.  I went into the
church and stood in line.  Fortunately due to the high volume of people wanting confession, both priests were occupying the two confessionals, so it didn't take long for my turn to come.  I'm so thankful I went.  I felt clean and good when I left.  I can only pray that my beloved family will follow suit as God leads them to do so.

 I don't blame my family for believing that this will not last.  For the past few years I have led us AWAY from the Catholic church...but I pray that "Margaret" is back and nothing will deter me from being where I need to be...at Mass.

Happy, Blessed Easter!!