Whatever You Do

Each morning, I have a brief window of time [usually between 6:30 A.M. and 7:30 A.M.] where it's just me and my thoughts.  

I don't mind narrating life around me like I do when David is awake, but I do like being silent.  My morning routine has become such a routine that my muscles just instinctively know that, at 6:48 A.M., it's time to apply liberal amounts of facial moisturizer before makeup.  So I get to be alone with my thoughts for a while, and lately, I've really been trying to use this time wisely.  

This morning, I woke up in a knot after breaking my own rule that states that I should not read work email after 7:00 P.M. I was thinking about a report that I would have to draft once I got to work.  A report that is cumbersome and [and here's where the thoughts can run amok if left unchecked] technically outside of my scope of work, but because we have a limited budget and staff, it falls on a few of us as, "other duties as assigned." 

As I curled my hair, I thought about these types of little "work-related injustices."  More responsibility for less pay.  I thought about the financial burden that comes from such a worthy cause--residency interviews, and how helpful a raise would be.  I thought about if and how I should address it with my boss.  I thought about what a wonderful team of people I get to work with, and how they face the same situation with gracious attitudes and a commitment to help each other.    

I chose my earrings for the day.

This morning, instead of thinking through these things in total silence, I was listening to a sermon from our paster that we had missed earlier this month.  I could tell that my thoughts were taking a turn for the cynical, so I thought it would be helpful to redirect them with some truth.  Admittedly, it was a little difficult to listen to because he was talking about the new identity you receive through Christ, and I was          feeling non-compliant.  And then he read from Colossians 3:23-24, "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive your inheritance as your reward.  You are serving the Lord Christ." I stopped getting ready and let it all sink in again.  

Don't get me wrong, I still think a raise would be great.  I still think that there is something to be said for doing the diligence to make sure that we do all we can to provide for our family, however that may be.  But there is also something to be said for thankfulness, and for recognizing that circumstances at work aren't going to change overnight and that sometimes, I must do things because they need to be done.  Because it's the right thing to do.  Because the remedy for bitterness is forgiveness, and because God has forgiven me, I know how I should forgive other people.  Because regardless of who my boss is, I'm really working for God.  And because little eyes and ears are on Jon and me at all times, and I don't want our family to leave a legacy of grumbling.  I thought about how thankful I was that, even in times of economic uncertainty, I can look forward to my husband having assured employment for at least the next five years, allowing me to 'retire' from my 8-5 job to invest in our family.  Getting bent out of shape over a few months salary began to feel painfully short-sighted. 

So I finished getting ready with a better perspective.  David woke up, we got ready for school, and I went to work and drafted the report.

And then I came home and talked with Jon over the phone and played with David some more.  Very good day.