THE RIGHT THING TO DO
(Part 1)
Even on the last day I worked I couldn't get out on time. It seemed like every Friday was like that. Having to only work a half shift on that day, there always seemed to be more that needed to be done, and chances are, I'd be the one to do it anyway. I was finally able to leave and haven't looked back. Oh, I still go in. It is after all the closest convenience store to my home. But letting it all go was much easier than I had anticipated. I still don't miss it almost two and a half months later.
"But what now Lord?"
I had purposefully let it be known, well in advance, my last day would be one day before the work week ended. I hated working Saturdays, not only because it was usually busy, but also because it really drained me physically and emotionally. It was often times difficult to get up to go to church the next morning. So that first Saturday morning, the first morning I knew I didn't have to work there any more, I woke up with the sure Word of the Lord in my heart. I spent my usual amount of time in prayer and then proceeded to spend some time reading my Bible. Every time I do the same thing. "HOLY SPIRIT, please reveal to me what YOU want me to read today." I heard the words, "James chapter one," come to mind.
"Let patience have her perfect work...."
In mid November I knew the deadline was fast approaching to decide how many cheese cakes to buy for those who sell bundled firewood, and how many oranges to buy to give away with the Christmas letter. But I also knew I was going to be unemployed by the time they arrived and I was able to distribute them. I so love giving especially at Christmas time. I spent a lot of time praying about it. I didn't want to foolishly make the investment and count on GOD to bring the money into my life without first having the assurance of HIS approval. I knew I had heard HIM say that HE would make a way before I ever placed the order. The total bill was about $350.
I left my job in the middle of a pay period and had money in my pocket, knowing I would be receiving at least two more checks. I no longer had the responsibility of making sure the mortgage was paid thanks to my wife. After her mother passed away and the last of all the bills had been paid, she was left with around eleven thousand dollars. She sent about five grand to her sister, and banked the rest. She said she wanted to give me $5000 of it, and I told her it was her money. I could think of a lot of things she should do with it which would benefit her, but she insisted on giving it to me. Finally I said, "Then pay off the mortgage," a little over four thousand. And that is what she did.
I spoke to my pastor prior to SJ taking care of the rest of the house about what she had told me she wanted to do. He said, "Well, you could always buy a newer truck." I said, "No. If the Lord wanted me to have a newer truck, I believe HE would bring one into my life." One time a customer at the store told me my truck was an "eye sore." If you ever saw it, you would probably agree. I told my pastor that I had been living the last seven years of my life believing GOD for everything I had or was able to give, and I wasn't going to stop doing it now.
By the time I received my last check, my heart sank. I had expected a much larger paycheck than I had received. I left my job stilling have twelve days of unused vacation. The employee hand book says, "any employee leaving in good standing will be paid for any unused vacation time." I thought my manager had told me I would be receiving the pay, but I didn't get it. Later, I prayed about the situation and the Lord said, "You will get what you deserve." So I'm thinking, "I didn't deserve the vacation pay even after I went out of my way to give them plenty of time to find a replacement?" You will get what you deserve.
The week I gave my notice, the store supervisor came for a visit on the day I happened to be working. I have always thought well of her, but during the period when the old store was torn down and the new one opened, I had found myself at odds with her several times to the point of doing everything I could to stay away from her. For some reason, she didn't take kindly to being told to "shut-up" after she interrupted me when I was talking. During this particular visit, she was constantly correcting me in front of customers, and I have a bad habit of giving as good as I get, often times pushing the envelope. Before she left, I asked her to watch my drawer so I could take a break. She seemed irritated that I would ask, but allowed me to go outside for a few minutes. When I came back, she had dropped much of the money I had in the drawer to make change with into the safe on a day which was known for being busy. She also didn't fail to mention that I knew better, which was true. When there was no one in the store, I would purposefully leave her presence just to get away from her. Before she finally left, she asked what was wrong. I told her, "Nothing," which wasn't true. I was so glad when she left.
I had wanted to clear the air with my supervisor after I had left, but wasn't quite sure how to do so because, as I said, I really did think well of her. And she was a believer, and I didn't want there to be any hard feelings between us. I also was unhappy that I hadn't received the vacation pay I believed I was entitled to. So I prayed about it, and eventually sent her a copy of the last Christmas letter, writing a personal note to her in the remaining blank space.
A few days later, about a month after I had received the bill for the cheesecakes, I thought I should probably send a payment to the company. By this time, I was down to $110. I was about to take fifty dollars and send it, when I felt the Spirit of the Lord say, "Wait." The next day after praying, I felt the Lord impress upon me to sow the fifty dollars. During the Saturday night Evening Sacrifice (prayer) at the church, I put the money in the plate even though no offering is taken on that day. After giving the money, the Lord said, "Name the seed." And I said, "Financial relief."
About a week later, she called me at home to let me know I would get the vacation pay. She told me it was because of a scheduling situation. After I hung up the phone, the Spirit of GOD came upon me. Overwhelmed with emotion, I began speaking in tongues and dropped to the floor. And I heard the Lord say, "I said I would take care of you." On December twenty third, I went to the bank and learned there was an additional eight hundred dollars in my account paid by my former employer. PRAISE THE LORD!! I paid off the bills for the cheesecakes, oranges, and everything else I was responsible for including tithes and offerings. I was left with about two hundred dollars. |
