Wow, what a day. When it boils down to it, I really think today was one of those 'training days' for me. When it finally dawned on me, I had to laugh about it, and my outlook on all that was happening suddenly changed.
I hate having to call off work for any reason, and so even through battling Pertussis {whooping cough} this entire month and a very painful run in with flax seed this week, I have been at work every day.
When I arrived at work today, I had no idea that we were going to be two people down, and that the owner of the store was going to come to work. My shift today was suppose to be my short one of the week, with me leaving at 11, but when I saw that the co-worker who was to be there till 1 had been one of the two absent, I knew it would not be long until I was asked to stay. Sure enough. Before 9 in the morning I was approached by my boss to cover most of the shift, vacant due to a sick call. Because I was expecting it, I was not angry, but the irony was not lost on me. Still sick, I was being asked to cover for someone else not feeling well.
Before getting sick with my flax seed reaction on Tuesday, my plan had been to stop by my boss' house with a surprise that had arrived in the mail that day. Not able to manage a visit to their house while they were home and I was free, I had decided to forget trying to get it to them off the clock and instead took it in with me this morning.
The irony grows.
I was asked to cover for someone, and then was going to give a gift to the one asking me to work more! As I told my boss, I was rewarding him for punishing me! :D
Throughout the rest of the day I was encouraged more and more that I had done the right thing by NOT being angry, but agreeing to stay even though I had really been looking forward to my 11 o'clock put out time!
How is this a training day, you ask?
This is my mission field training. My little China babies are not going to know or be able to care if Jie Jie is not feeling well today and would really rather sleep in! They are still going to need to be loved and cared for. And I am going to have to be able to work through being tired, ill, sad, lonely, and hurt {emotionally}.
And even Scripture tell us to bless them that curse you. Now, I am not saying that I am persecuted at work, or that it was a curse, or that it is my prison! However, my mission field is not only on the other side of the world. While it might seem a smaller scale, here is also my field, and I have to be able to show Christ in everything I do at home as well. So though it is a much smaller scale, perhaps taking a gift in for the person who will then ask me to give more than I was willing to when I woke up, is good preparation for what is to come.
Even if my future is not in Asia, I have no doubt that in some way this month has been the begining of my field training. MAN is that exciting! :)
At one point in the day I found myself singing "All Is Well" a Daniel Kirkley 'update' of the amazing hymn "It is Well With My Soul"
All is well, day is done
Purple skies, crimson sun
A whisper Gods still in control
All is well, with my soul
All is well, storms are gone
I've been tossed but life goes on
My prayers were heard
And your promise holds
All is well, with my soul
Dark winds blew
To temp and test
But Lord in You I find rest
I did not fear for You are Lord
You made it clear that I am Yours
All is well
All is well
For in Christ
Should some trial, it claim my life
At once I'll stand
On streets of gold
All is well, all is well, all is well
With my soul
I saw two really good movies today! They were completely different from one another, but both really good in their own right!