She's Beautiful

Pretend you work in an office. Someone is leaving and someone new is hired. She walks in on her first day. You notice her pregnant belly, blemishes on her face, her wedding rings hanging on a necklace because they are too small for her finger. She is neatly dressed and seems pleasant enough. A few days go by. She seems to be picking everything up fairly well and learning quickly. But, at one month from being due, she begins to have contractions, her water breaks but reseals, she hurts. She goes to the hospital twice during the week and it is possible she will be having her baby soon. You know that if she has her baby she will miss a large portion of training with the person who is leaving, and that when she comes back you will be the one in charge of training her.

I heard someone complaining about this situation during a visit to our office yesterday.  Can't blame them, it's inconvenient.  

Here is what I know of this girl, as she is my friend. She is an extremely hard worker and never quits. Her husband has a disease that requires her to take care of their family, plus he is in school. The company that she was previously working for is going bankrupt and owes her a lot of money. Her baby is coming early. She is completely loyal and has a beautiful, optimistic personality. Her family has nearly disowned her for joining another church. She is always thinking of others.

It is interesting how a situation can go from being something undesirable to an opportunity to show compassion, and to realize that it is a privilege to know that person. I become more and more aware of the ways in which I judge others because of what I know about them in the first 10 minutes of meeting them. There have been some times when I realize that someone could take what I have said or done in the wrong way, but if they just knew what I was thinking or what the situation was, they would understand the meaning behind my words or actions.

It is amazing how beautiful people can be when we take the time to know them and their story.

It Gets Better

Not only did things settle down in the office that I was working in, but I was offered a position in another part of our division with some people that I like very much.  On top of that, I was offered a very nice salary raise.  The head of our division spoke with me this afternoon and told me that there are good employees, and there are star employees, and that he has been very grateful that I have been one of the star employees.  I was grateful he told me that, and that my hard work is appreciated and has paid off.  I don't mind the salary raise either.

We really are taken care of.  We just need to learn a little bit of patience and how to pray along the way.

Life is beautiful.

Head in the Clouds

I got on the plane sat near the front next to the window to wait and watch for evening to fall.  The sun cast the plane's shadow on the ground, and with the roaring of the engine it seemed as if it were a great growling beast.  As we gathered speed the shadow kept pace until we left the ground, where it seemed to shrink and lighten until it was a small little kitten racing across the flat farm and dessert land.

When I am up in the air I can see how small I am in my little world.  I can see houses and fields and buildings and dreams just populating the land and valleys and hills.  But for some beautiful reason, I can feel, sometimes more perfectly than in our crowded and noisy little world, that God truly does love me, that He knows me, and that He is very aware of me flying over the world.  And He whispers that He loves me.

Life is beautiful.

It has been very cloudy in the area I have been flying through and the sunset was beautiful.  A deep ruby red accented with thick pearly white clouds.  As we flew through the city we were descending to, it looked like a fairy tale painting, with small lights flickering on, the sunset illuminated in the lakes and rivers, and boats docked at the shore.  

The world is beautiful in just the right places.

And Thus It Was...

Today we were just informed as to our new roles in the office.  I will be keeping my responsibilities and doing my job in the spot that I was supposed to be in.  For now.  But hey, it all works out somehow.  

I really do feel blessed.

The Feeling of Time and Its Passing

Satisfaction