dar334

I’m not really sure how many of you will instantly see “The Smith Look” when you read this title, my kids will for sure as the three of us have fondly named it this after receiving it innumerable times from Jim, my husband and their father.  I for one, have seen “The Look” several times, but “The Smith Look” ……. is different, it’s unique.  I’m not certain I’ve seen it from another Smith.  It isn’t frightening, it doesn’t make you want to stop what doing whatever it is you are doing.  It’s not the kind that means “If you don’t stop right now your are going to be sorry!”  It’s one of those looks that make you laugh.  Out loud.  It says “What the heck are you doing?” or “What in heck are you talking about” or “Have you lost your ever loving mind?”  One of those fun looks.  I gave it today, to my boss.  Only that “Smith Look” I gave to him expressed all the above examples at one time.

I’m in my twentieth year at this job.  Over the twenty years we have had anywhere from 8 to 15 employees.  We are a successful small business.  At any given point, there are rarely more than 3 here at a time.  I see my bosses (I have 2 of them) more than I see my husband, if you don’t take in consideration sleeping time.  We have laughed together, we have cried together.  We have shared graduations, weddings, grandchildren, and deaths.  We have wanted to ring each other’s necks.  So today, when B1 (Boss #1) came in my office with a receipt in his hand and walked over to the drawer where the Visa receipts go, and after opening the drawer he said “Don’t you have a folder for Josh’s Visa receipts?” and I said “No.”  his reply to that was ……. “Well.  What’s taking you so long?! What are you waiting for?!”  Now mind you, Josh just recently got a Visa card for work.  We have not even gotten a statement yet.  It was the very first receipt for that card.  I slowly turned around, gave him “The Smith Look”, at first, then it turned in to “The Look” and I said “SERIOUSLY?!  Maybe I’m waiting to get a receipt!  Ice ……… cracking …….. !”  At this point I think he realized the error in his ways and started laughing.  In my defense, I’m not busy doing just a couple tasks.  I have 2 part time girls that do the invoicing, which in itself has 1,000 different thing to remember.  I also have 1,000 different things to remember, and 1,000 different tasks.  From putting a new roll of toilet paper on because none of my “boys” knows how to do it, to payroll and insurance.  I’ve laid on my back on the floor and drilled holes for screws to hook my keyboard shelf back on my desk after B1 leaned too hard on it and broke it loose.  I’ve washed the windows.  There’s a lot of stuff to do.  There’s ……. A ……. LOT …… OF …….. STUFF.

The end result is I’m still sitting at my desk.  B1 is running a couple service calls so things are OK.  It’s been a crazy year.  We’re busy.  We are all stretched to the limits.  It’s hard to find good help.  We have some good help, but they are stretched to the limits too.  We have placed several help wanted ads in various places including the internet and haven’t even had one bite.  Anxiety is high and nerves are being stretched to the breaking point.  Whether or not I have a folder for Josh’s Visa receipts is the last thing on my list to be concerned about.

Now to work this into a faith based ponder …….. It’s been a hard couple years in my personal life and throw in the busy couple years in my work life.  I’ve resorted to an array of post-it notes that encircle my monitor on my desk.  They include Colossians 3:23 – Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men. 
Then there’s Romans 12:19 – Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge, I will repay,” says the Lord.  Romans 12:2 – Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  My favorite one, and the one used the most is Psalm 141:3 – Put a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.  

In closing, I thank God daily because he never stopped knocking on my door.  I thank God daily that I opened that door.  My life, even though the worldly things have been hitting harder and closer, has become easier to deal with.  We live for today.  We enjoy today.  We thank God every day for “today”.  The things that almost drove me crazy before don’t affect me in the way now that they used to.  I still get upset, I still cry.  I still feel defeated sometimes.  But I am now able, with the help of my faith, to knock Satan off my left shoulder and move on, with Christ at my right side.

Listen for the knock.  There’s only one doorknob and it’s on inside.  When you hear it, open the door.  Let Jesus in.  It will make all the difference in the world.

-dar