A Different Kind of Family
This week has been so busy. Not just busy, but inconvenient. Everyone has had to make adjustments. The washer is broken. I couldn’t even consider fixing it until now. And a broken washer seems to affect everything! But the Lord always takes care of us. And this week was no different.
Thursday was a good example of that. I woke up with a sense of dread, an emptiness. And an acute awareness that Derick is not here. Of course I am aware of his absence everyday, but Thursday was different. Thursday I could physically feel his absence. My alarm sounds before the sunrise no matter the time of year. My dogs are whining and the coffee is brewing every morning, without fail, at a time that doesn’t exist in my family’s world. Mostly because I’ve discovered over the years, I’m just nicer to my kids if I’m up and going before them.
Getting them out the door on Thursday, was the easy part. Nothing extraordinary. Their clothes were actually clean, in spite of my broken washer. The kids went to church on Wednesday night and I washed a couple loads at my sister’s house. Washing clothes at her house is easy and comfortable. And I can always find a little comfort food at her house.
My kids start school early. After Christian goes to school at 7:00, I have the house to myself. Quietly, I shower and fix my hair. I can hear the dogs playing and making noise from my bathroom.
A couple of crashes.
A little playful growling at each other.
Probably should check to see what’s going on...
And there on the floor is a brand new box of Fanny Mae Mint Meltaways. Empty. Wrappers scattered.
And next to the wrappers, I found the sweater that I planned to wear to work that day, soaked in a bright yellow puddle.
I put the little dog in his kennel, gathered up what I needed and went to work a half hour early.
I work at Samaritan Ministries. I applied for a job there on purpose because of Derick's deployment. I knew the kind of support they have offered Derick has been second to none. And I wanted that for myself while he is away.
I spent that half hour in the mail room, where my mom works. Moms are easy and comfortable like sisters are. I was already teary, I didn’t want to sit at my desk and cry in front of everyone. So I hid. At 8:25 I decided, in spite of my tears, I should head to my desk.
Just as I started wondering where everyone had gone, a coworker told me my supervisor was looking for me. My team had a meeting that I was completely unaware of. And now I was late.
So much for not crying in front of everyone.
I slipped quietly into the meeting and sat down, staring at the Kleenex in my hands, trying desperately not to draw attention to myself.
Thursday was a good example of that. I woke up with a sense of dread, an emptiness. And an acute awareness that Derick is not here. Of course I am aware of his absence everyday, but Thursday was different. Thursday I could physically feel his absence. My alarm sounds before the sunrise no matter the time of year. My dogs are whining and the coffee is brewing every morning, without fail, at a time that doesn’t exist in my family’s world. Mostly because I’ve discovered over the years, I’m just nicer to my kids if I’m up and going before them.
Getting them out the door on Thursday, was the easy part. Nothing extraordinary. Their clothes were actually clean, in spite of my broken washer. The kids went to church on Wednesday night and I washed a couple loads at my sister’s house. Washing clothes at her house is easy and comfortable. And I can always find a little comfort food at her house.
My kids start school early. After Christian goes to school at 7:00, I have the house to myself. Quietly, I shower and fix my hair. I can hear the dogs playing and making noise from my bathroom.
A couple of crashes.
A little playful growling at each other.
Probably should check to see what’s going on...
And there on the floor is a brand new box of Fanny Mae Mint Meltaways. Empty. Wrappers scattered.
And next to the wrappers, I found the sweater that I planned to wear to work that day, soaked in a bright yellow puddle.
I put the little dog in his kennel, gathered up what I needed and went to work a half hour early.
I work at Samaritan Ministries. I applied for a job there on purpose because of Derick's deployment. I knew the kind of support they have offered Derick has been second to none. And I wanted that for myself while he is away.
I spent that half hour in the mail room, where my mom works. Moms are easy and comfortable like sisters are. I was already teary, I didn’t want to sit at my desk and cry in front of everyone. So I hid. At 8:25 I decided, in spite of my tears, I should head to my desk.
Just as I started wondering where everyone had gone, a coworker told me my supervisor was looking for me. My team had a meeting that I was completely unaware of. And now I was late.
So much for not crying in front of everyone.
I slipped quietly into the meeting and sat down, staring at the Kleenex in my hands, trying desperately not to draw attention to myself.
And my boss, in the middle of the devotional, turned and saw me crying. I have no idea what the devotional was about. I could not tell you a single word that he said before he saw me sitting with tears streaming down my cheeks. But in that moment, the meeting stopped and all eyes were on me.
Derick and I like to watch crime dramas together. The characters in these shows always seem to have a special relationship with each other. Almost unnaturally close. That unrealistic TV-show, we’re-family-even-though-we’re-not-family relationship. And I always think, is that possible? To have relationships like that with people you work with? And on Thursday, I discovered the answer is yes.
The difference is, we really are family. These men and women in the meeting that cared enough to stop the meeting to come to my aid, are my brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ. My boss encouraged me. My co-workers laid hands on me and prayed for me. And they helped me to understand, even though I’m crying about chocolate and a sweater and a missed meeting, I really just miss my husband.
But they didn’t stop there. By boss bought chocolate for the whole department from Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. Told us all to stop working and come eat chocolate in his office. And then my supervisor let me leave early with donated PTO to make sure the stolen chocolate didn’t damage my dogs’ bellies, and to clean up any more messes they made.
This is what loving each other looks like. It’s not a quick “I’ll pray for you!”. It’s not a “I found a verse for you. I hope it’s encouraging to you”. It’s messy and involved and time-consuming. It’s “your dog ate your expensive chocolate? Let me get more! And let’s get enough so that everyone can enjoy it and spend time eating it together!” And “by the way, here’s 2 hours of paid time off so you can go home and clean up any deposits the dogs may have left for you.” And “also, I’m gonna come to your house and help you fix your washer.”
In my last post I told about how Derick’s enlistment in the Navy was something we have never doubted. We knew that is God’s direction for us. I can honestly say that about Samaritan too. I tell inquirers everyday on the phone that Samaritan is about bearing one another’s burdens. But I’m here to tell you, the staff is just as good at it as the members! Probably even better!
These are my coworkers, enjoying a work lunch together at Pizza Ranch, to celebrate the boss's birthday. Fellowship and relationships are important. And this group puts that into practice!
Derick and I like to watch crime dramas together. The characters in these shows always seem to have a special relationship with each other. Almost unnaturally close. That unrealistic TV-show, we’re-family-even-though-we’re-not-family relationship. And I always think, is that possible? To have relationships like that with people you work with? And on Thursday, I discovered the answer is yes.
The difference is, we really are family. These men and women in the meeting that cared enough to stop the meeting to come to my aid, are my brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ. My boss encouraged me. My co-workers laid hands on me and prayed for me. And they helped me to understand, even though I’m crying about chocolate and a sweater and a missed meeting, I really just miss my husband.
But they didn’t stop there. By boss bought chocolate for the whole department from Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. Told us all to stop working and come eat chocolate in his office. And then my supervisor let me leave early with donated PTO to make sure the stolen chocolate didn’t damage my dogs’ bellies, and to clean up any more messes they made.
This is what loving each other looks like. It’s not a quick “I’ll pray for you!”. It’s not a “I found a verse for you. I hope it’s encouraging to you”. It’s messy and involved and time-consuming. It’s “your dog ate your expensive chocolate? Let me get more! And let’s get enough so that everyone can enjoy it and spend time eating it together!” And “by the way, here’s 2 hours of paid time off so you can go home and clean up any deposits the dogs may have left for you.” And “also, I’m gonna come to your house and help you fix your washer.”
In my last post I told about how Derick’s enlistment in the Navy was something we have never doubted. We knew that is God’s direction for us. I can honestly say that about Samaritan too. I tell inquirers everyday on the phone that Samaritan is about bearing one another’s burdens. But I’m here to tell you, the staff is just as good at it as the members! Probably even better!
These are my coworkers, enjoying a work lunch together at Pizza Ranch, to celebrate the boss's birthday. Fellowship and relationships are important. And this group puts that into practice!
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