I have had the last FOUR days off work. If you know anything about my work schedule you’ll realize that this is freakishly abnormal.
The outdoor seating area of the restaurant is currently under construction, which closes out a section that would usually hold anywhere from one to three servers. On top of that, business has just been all around slow for the last two weeks. If you’re wondering why, consider this: the average American household spends roughly $1,700 dollars on gifts and accessories for the Christmas holiday. After all that spending no-one wants to go out to eat an expensive meal for a while. They’re all at the gym, sweating out their New Year’s Resolution before they burn out and give up in two weeks. Plus, Florida, the supposed “sunshine state” turned into the Antarctic out of no-where for a few days and no-one could bear to drag themselves out of bed. The weather is back to normal now, thank goodness, (just a spot of amnesia on Florida’s part, I imagine) but for a while there I was sleeping in footie pajamas and about 6 layers of blankets.
Bottom line: business is so slow that our shifts are down to skin and bones. Where I usually work an average of eight shifts a week, I am down to four.
When I first got my schedule, I was a bit frustrated. I need every penny I can muster for my trip and the list of things I need to pay for only seems to grow as time goes on. It’s pretty clear I won’t have anything left over this month to save and my last paycheck, which was a little higher than usual from having to work a double-shift on Christmas day, will have to be used to pay for day-to-day living this month.
In the end, I decided that if I was going to be forced into time off, I’d use those four days to accomplish as much as humanly possible. And truly, I got a LOT done for my trip and I do feel quite relieved, but as it turns out, that was not the true beauty of these few days away.
I realize now that God was getting me alone with Him for another reason altogether. He has been romancing me so much during these few days away. He has given me sweet time with people who encourage my heart. He has shown me of the importance of living a life of love for those around me. He has allowed me to witness a beautiful young woman turn her life over to His trusting arms. And, even when I don’t deserve it, He has reassured me. He has reminded me that He is my Provider; my job is not. He takes care of everything I need. I have nothing worth worrying about.
“If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don't fuss about what's on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds.
"Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? All this time and money wasted on fashion—do you think it makes that much difference? Instead of looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop, but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them.”
(Matthew 6:26-29)
