"A good one," I replied.
Yes, I was tested today while working. My initial reaction was truly sincere-I smiled and meant exactly what I had said. I'm not sure if he pitied me, wanted to make me feel lowly so he could feel inferior to me, or what, but I didn't think anything of it until I had walked away and gave his first impression a time to sink in.
There have been multiple occasions where I was told my job was in fact not a real job. However, I never let it get the best of me. (Before I thank God, I do not want to give off the impression that “O Holy is I”-- this has everything to do with Him, and nothing to do with “me.”) With that said, I know that I’m where I’m supposed to be because God has me here. When Cody had his accident, I quit working as a receptionist at the hair salon so that I could help my mom with her business (who was single at the time, mind you). While she was going to need to spend a lot of time being a mom taking care of my brother, she still had clientele that depended on her service and she on their business as means of income. I prayed about it before hand and honestly just put it in God’s hands; there was no clear, in-my-face sign to quit, but I took a leap of faith. I remember, though, my boss had made it easy. She initiated the conversation about “doing what I had to do.” So being the understanding woman that she is, she had eased my dilemma. While I loved my “second family,” my blood came first. I was still in school at the time but I began working a few days during the week with Mom or just when I could. I grew up with my mom cleaning. I remember getting to have the “bring your kids to work day” A LOT. Basically because I could not STAND daycare and cried for my mommy even at age ten. (No, even at that age I did not want to be home alone.) As I got older, I would help her even.
So I acquired the skill early on.., by watching, by forced child labor (ha ha just kiddin’), and/or maybe just by a natural “gift” already instilled in me. LOL Mom was a great trainer to say the least. So anyway, picking up and working for her came pretty easy, pretty quickly. Like second nature. I remember taking on my first house, BY MYSELF. I’m pretty sure I cried. … Yeah, I cried. It was an altogether new experience not having mama by my side. I suddenly felt incapable without her reassuring presence, like I had forgotten how to clean or something. But that happened quickly and within just a few months or so, I was cleaning mostly by myself. In fact, not long after that, the business had doubled! How amazing God is!! And to look back just almost two years ago to now, it’s truly a blessing to see the growth of “Helping Hands.” Looking back my Mom and I both had the same gaze as if searching for the “right answer” in each other. “Is this a rash decision… honestly, what are we thinking!?” We didn’t know what the outcome would be or exactly how we were going to make it, but above all, we trusted God and knew He would provide no matter what!
In the process, I stopped going to school after my second year in. I completed two years, but that was all. I no longer had the passion to be a dental hygienist and honestly never really did. As many of us straight-out-of-high-schoolers, college newbies, we just want to be “successful” …”What’s going to get me the most money??” “I want to be well-off. Provide for my family and still have money left over for vacations and enjoyment.” We just want to obtain the American Dream. …
While there is nothing necessarily wrong with that... it can, however, limit or cloud God’s true calling on each of our lives. There are days I’m asked by people I barely even know “When are you going back to school?” “Don’t wait too long, or you’ll never go back” Sure, that may be true statistically speaking, but honestly I have no desire. No desire to waste any more money. No desire to sit in a classroom and listen to material that honestly is uninteresting to me. Basically no desire until I’m absolutely forced and have been assured by God and then reassured and then confirmed once more! LOL …Although I am not making enough money to move out or buy my next car just yet, I can say without a doubt and with no hesitation, I absolutely love what I do! There is no better feeling than waking up and feeling like what you are doing has purpose. It’s rewarding; it’s a privilege; it’s a blessing. Sure, on the outside it looks like “I’m just cleaning homes,” but it’s so much more than that. Gosh, is it SO much more than that. I work for people. Whether my job for the day was to solely ease their stress and check one last thing off their “to-do” list or if was to do that and possibly more, it brings me so much joy! They have helped in talking me through things, with their insight and wisdom; they’ve been true blessings more than they possibly even know. Just their true love, little “thank you” notes, and overall genuine concern for me as an individual melts my heart.
Of course there are days where I am tired and would like to call in sick, but I suck it up and find that day to end in one of the best days ever! (Not that I have much choice considering I live with my boss. HAHA) Just thought I’d state the obvious... But really my true motivation comes from the Lord. I love how He has helped me to grow as a person just by working the job that I work. For one, I am trusted in my clients’ homes- who are once complete strangers- WOW! I’ve learned what integrity truly means- doing what is right when no one is watching. Because do you know what that says? When no one else is there, God IS! So ultimately you ARE working for God. Ephesians 6:7 says “Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people.” We can easily displease people (not measure up to their standards), but when we do our best and do it for the Lord since our true reward comes from Him, it makes life that much easier, and it makes work, well… not “work.” Instead, an honor!
I do have this pretty radical idea, and it may be “far out,” but I’ve been craving change and I’ve thought about the possibility of moving away for a summer to maybe expand the business or to start somewhere new with a clean slate. The beach was my most obvious first pick. (I can only think of that movie ~“Blue Crush”~ I mean I still feel like I was adopted from these humans and was taken out of my mermaid environment. hmph…sigh. But I am being serious, and would love nothing more than to do something crazy like that. I just have to take in account that my thought has to have much prayer before I just react. There would have to be someone to take on my client’s I already have here. No way would I leave them or gyp my mom like that out of selfish reasons and neither would God have me. I just feel through His word, God has been tugging at me, and this desire still feels like it wasn’t something I just made up. Ultimately I want… NEED for my desires and dreams to be in align with God’s will. We must be careful with our dreams… that they do not override His purpose for us. *Just ahhh, what a perfect point in my life. I’m still young, I’m single… seems perfect. I’m always discovering things about myself. I want to seek God more and more and find Him work through me! With that said, calling all prayer warriors!! Thank you, love you.
…It’s evident that the man’s words from today stuck with me.
To the point where I came home inspired to write this. So thank you, man. There
is one thing though I look back and wish I could’ve done. It would be to tell
him all of this! ^ At least I’m hopeful that maybe my smile and attitude
expressed it. But to me, I felt I could have done more. I feel maybe that was a
perfect time to minister to him. I pray God give me the courage to not hold
back at such a fitting opportunity to showcase Him, His word, His love. As a
Christian, I sometimes find myself guilty of trying to be non-confrontational
or 100% open with my love for Christ. We are not to be people pleasers, but in
the same breath we must not condemn or judge them. Let’s just think though…what
if that was their one chance to really hear about God. You may think you’re
hitting a touchy subject so you avoid it. But don’t. It’s what we are called to
do.
Mar 16:15-16 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim
the gospel to the whole creation.
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not
believe will be condemned.” Romans 10:13-15 For “everyone who calls on
the name of the Lord will be saved.” How
then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to
believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without
someone preaching? And how are they to
preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of
those who preach the good news!”
Maybe I didn’t note God aloud to the man, but I pray some
kind of seed was planted. I have no clue if he knew God or not, had a
relationship with God or not. But we can simply preach by the way we live and
the way we talk. Col 4:6 says “Let your speech always be gracious,
seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.”
<3 - <3 - <3
“And whatever you do,
whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks
to God the Father through him.” Col. 3:17
“Whatever you do, work
at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”
Col. 3:23
"Trust in the
Lord with all your heart and lean not on your understanding; in all your ways
acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6
“A man's mind plans
his way, but the Lord directs his steps and makes them sure.” Proverbs 16:9
Love always,
Me ;)
