More Examined In The Waiting Room
“Our work as God’s servants
gets validated-or not-in the details.
People are watching us…” Excerpt from 2 Corinthians 6 (The Message)
I entered the baby blue
shoebox-sized office to be promptly shooed away to a steel framed chair. “Well good morning, Sunshine,” I
murmured as I slid down into my seat.
“Sunshine” beckoned me once for the insurance card hokey-pokey and then
pointed to the same chair I left just moments ago. And there I waited.
Twenty minutes passed when a
pleasant nurse called me back, checked my vitals and placed me in an
examination room. My doctor
conducted a thorough examination and provided a great report. Yes!
My delight swiftly became dread
as I approached the check-out counter.
Ugh, there she is again. I waited silently, being blatantly
ignored; not even eye contact!
“Sunshine” was in the middle of an intimate file tango and my presence
was clearly an undesired interruption.
Take
a deep cleansing breath, I commanded myself as I examined my
surroundings. Lo and behold a
subtle delight returned when my eyes observed the McDonald’s iced coffee that
rested next to her.
Ah,
yes! When…IF…I get out of here…I’m hitting the Golden Arches to get a free iced
coffee with the coupon waiting patiently in my wallet!
I dug into my purse, pulled out
my wallet and obediently stood at attention until I could pay and escape. Immediately, conviction dropped on me
as fast as a new mother tends to her baby’s peep. I reached into my wallet, pulled out my precious coupon and
thought, Yes God, I will.
Gulp.
“I
see you like those iced coffees too.
Here, take my coupon for a free one.”
She looked up at me. Her strained brown transformed into a
pleasant and familiar double arch.
We chatted easily for the next ten minutes in friendly conversation and parted
with wide smiles. You know, the
way friends do.
No, there wasn’t an opportunity
to tell her about my faith, but I did get to show her what it looked like. That moment wasn’t about her grumpiness
or my initial negative reaction.
It was about my choice to be more like Christ, even when I really didn’t
want to. God used that opportunity
to show me it is more important how I behave while I wait, than how I behave
while I am examined. How I wait is a front row view of who I really am.
You know what it cost me? Well,
depending on the size, $1.69 or $1.99 (plus tax)…no, it cost me my pride. I decided to swallow a calorie-free
portion of pride rather than a free iced java.
Yes, the doctor examined me in
the examination room that day. But
even more importantly, God examined my character in the waiting room. And, in both rooms, the test results
came out just fine.
Steph's writing has appeared in Proverbs 31 Ministry, P31 Woman magazine. In her free time she can be found encouraging numerous MOPS group in the northern Virginia area on the "Colorful Art of Friendship - Allowing God to Paint the Masterpieces" and MOPS leaders on "Being a Bright Light".
Steph can be found blogging at www.encouragedinheart.org or on Facebook at Stephanie Fink or on her Facebook page Encouraged in Heart - Stephanie Fink. She loves big hair, big cups of coffee and big bear hugs.
*(Previously published in November 2009 in P31 Woman magazine.)
Labels: Faith
8 Comments:
I knew it was Steph writing before I even got to the second paragraph! Love her style and hearing her voice!
God's still working on me in the waiting department! Thankful that He loves and accepts me as He refines! Thankful to share my story here! :-)
Love it!!!! It's amazing how one act of pure kindness,no matter the size of that kindness, can change someone! A great way to SHOW God's Love for us by quietly sharing it.
Thanks for the inspiration you constantly give others.
steph, i love this post. this is so true, and something i have been convicted about more and more lately. Jesus was perfect in every way, and still He was executed as a criminal. He set the most perfect example of sacrificial love for others, no matter how they treat us....what a completely radical and crazy way to live in this country and this American "it's all about me" culture.
you helped that woman in ways you'll probably never know about that day by taking a breath and showing her that kindness. way to go!!
Great story that we all need to hear about patience! Thanks for sharing!!
Luv this article
Your heart is so full and pours out to others just as Jesus heart does. I'm sure Jesus is smiling down on you just as you shared a smile with another. Kathy D.
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