Finding Joy in Your Work

Work should always be associated with joy...

The story is told of three women washing clothes. A passerby asked each what she was doing.

"Washing clothes" was the first answer.

"A bit of household drudgery" was the second.

"I'm mothering three young children who someday will fill important and useful spheres in life, and wash day is a part of my grand task in caring for these souls who shall live forever" was the third.

Ordinary work, which is what most of us do, most of the time, is ordained by God every bit as much as the extraordinary. All work done for God is spiritual work and therefore is not merely a duty but a holy privalege.

-Elisabeth Elliot- The shaping of a Christian Family

The fun never ends...at work.

Last night I got a call at 8:15 pm from work that we had federal surveyors in the building. Yippee (did you know that yippee is actually in the spell checker?). We have never had a federal survey, so we have no idea what to expect. Apparently 10% of all state surveys are now followed up by federal surveys to make sure that the state people are doing their job (and to see if they missed anything). Of course it was the one night that I told Tim to go to bed at 7:30 because he's been so tired. I jumped in the shower and then put the boys to bed. I got to work around 9:10 and stayed until 12:40. I will be back there today for all the fun. Please pray again!!! They will be at work through Friday. Surveys are very crazy and some of the people I work with get very bent out of shape. I try to remember that the worst thing they can do is fire me. They can't take away the things that are important to me like my husband and kids!

Please pray also for my friend, Anita. She had a baby boy (Jacob) 7 weeks ago and he is having problems with his bowels. I know a couple of you have gone through that. She is already worried about colostomy's and things like that. She takes him to the Dr. today.

I almost forgot...

I got to do the coolest thing on Tuesday at work. I got to hold a baby skunk! It was 6 weeks old and it fit into one hand. It was tiny! One of the nurses raises them as pets and sells them to people.

I guess they can be litter box trained and they eat dog food. They sell for $350-500. They like to have their backs scratched and they make a little squeaky noise. They recognize their names like dogs do.

I wish I had had a camera with me!

Today if all goes well, state will be leaving at around 3:00 pm. Keep praying.

My Job

**(I originally wrote this about 2 months ago)**

This past couple of weeks at my job have been really heart wrenching. Last night I sat at the feet of a lonely 96 year old man whom I've grown to love. He has been there almost as long as I have and his wife died in our facility a couple of years ago. I had to go into his room to ask him a question and he said something to the effect of "won't you please stay and talk to me?". So I sat on the floor, at his feet, for almost 45 minutes and talked into his good ear. We talked about his family who all live out of town/state. We talked about The Andy Griffith show, his fading memory, and finally about death.

As far as I know, he is not a Christian. He has always said that he just "wants to go on forever". He is very proud of his age. I tried talking to him a little bit about how he could "go on forever". He just looked at me like, I know what you're getting at and I'm not ready to make that kind of decision.

He ended up asking me about the boys and I told him that I would be bringing them in to visit in a week and 1/2. He said that maybe he'll be there and crossed his fingers. This man is one of the most intelligent and interesting people I have ever met. He sits in a nursing home day after day with failing eyesight with few visitors and little interaction with others. He still gets the Cleveland Plain Dealer and reads it every day. I feel blessed that I had some time to spend with him last night.

**Written today**

About two weeks ago I went in to see Lawrence. His health had not been good. His memory was fading in and out. I went to tell him "Happy Birthday". He was 97 years old. He cherished his birthdays and was always proud to tell you how old he was. He was always somewhat disappointed because we have another lady who will be 104 this year and he never could catch up with her.

I told him Happy Birthday, hugged him, and told him that I loved him. It was about 9 pm and I don't think that any of his family came to see him that day or even called to wish him a Happy Birthday. I asked him if there was anything I could do for him and he said talk to the Dr. and see if there is anything he can do for this predicament I'm in (or something like that). He knew that he was having problems with his memory and that bothered him. He was always a well spoken man and teaching us new words in English and some in German. When I went to leave him that night, I told him that I would see him Thursday and he said "sooner". I said "maybe sooner". I left his room in tears, upset that his family had not come to see him on his 97th birthday. He passed away early Thursday morning before I got to work. I loved that man.