Test
29 Oct 2011 Leave a Comment
Test
Sent via my BlackBerry from Vodacom – let your email find you!
Fix This Woman
04 Aug 2011 Leave a Comment
This is profound! I believe we all encounter such moments…..but do they make us or break us?
Fix This Woman!
Nonfiction By Deborah Genskow
Mandy was determined to make my life miserable. Unfortunately, our relationship didn’t start
out very well. We both applied for the same supervisory position, which I was offered in the end.
Not only did I get her promotion, I became her new boss. Her response was to take it out on
me.
I had enough to worry about: increased responsibilities, a different office, and a new staff. I
needed Mandy’s knowledge and experience to keep things running smoothly. But she did
everything she could to trip me up. We worked near each other, but Mandy rarely offered
help, even when she saw me struggling. In fact, she whispered behind my back and complained
to other staff about me. Despite all that, I tried to smile when she walked toward me. Eventually
though, my smiles melted under the tension I felt when she entered the room.
About a month into my new job, I fumed to God on the way to work. I informed Him how urgent
it was that He fix Mandy, and now! I filled Him in on how rude, disrespectful, maligning and
destructive she was. My complaining prayers when on and on. But somewhere between my
ranting and raging, God whispered into my ear, Pray for her. I caught my breath, confused. I
told God how absurd it was to pray for her and proceeded to explain how, based on her
behavior, she didn’t deserve my prayers. Anyway, I couldn’t think of a single thing to pray about..
Still, I couldn’t get that phrase, Pray for her, out of my head.
God kept nudging me to pray for Mandy, but I resisted. However, I managed to complain about
her to my husband and anyone else who would listen. Eventually my stomach tied in knots when
I was around her. I was beginning to dread my new job. Finally, with no affection whatsoever, I
gave in and prayed. It was hard to know quite where to start, so I began by praying about her
temper, then her attitude, and then her work ethic. After I got all that behind me, something
surprising happened. Instead of feeling justified, I felt warmer to her.
I kept praying for Many and my prayers seemed to lift my shield of resentment toward her. I also
saw her with new eyes. I saw how lonely she looked after a phone call from her mom and how
insecure she appeared when learning a new task. I observed how loyal she was to our customers
and how much they enjoyed her jokes. I notice how tired she looked in the mornings and that her
hands trembled while talking with me. With these new observations, I became more aware of how
to pray for her. and my prayers increased.
Eventually my payers spilled out into how I treated her. I affirmed her good customer service and
gave her a flower one day to thank her. It became easier to smile sincerely when she entered the
room. I even cross-trained Mandy in my job. She grew more indispensable and confident.
Months later, after a particularly good day, I thanked God for all the work He had done in Mandy.
Obviously, my prayers had made a big difference in her, because things were going so well. But as
soon as I said it, I heard that now familiar whisper, Mandy wasn’t the only one who changed!
Deborah Genskow is a freelance writer and speaker in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, USA.
My deep thanks to her for giving me permission to share this article with you.
Isn’t it a blessing to see how God worked to change Deborah’s heart. He was so gentle and kind
that she didn’t even realize that she had changed until the very end.
Two scriptures come to mind through this testimony: Both are from the NIV.
Phillippians 2:13: “For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.”
God not only shows us what we should do but works to give us the desire to do it as well.
Romans 8:28: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”
Do your best, bring out the best in others.
Grrrr
01 May 2011 Leave a Comment
in Lessons
Some people are socially-inept buffoons. Don’t need ‘em I say! Time to move on and ditch all the negative people in my life. I make far too many allowances for people. No more Mister Nice Guy! I intend leaving behind all those who cannot behave themselves. If you want to be a shit to me, consider yourself dropped. Toodles!
Ha! Great feeling to be baggage-free.
Yes, that means you!
Freedom Day
27 Apr 2011 Leave a Comment
in South Africa
I think it should be called Freedom and Responsibility Day, since there are a lot of people around here who don’t seem to understand that the one goes with the other. I am annoyed at the sense of entitlement that has pervaded South Africa. Nobody is entitled to anything. You work, you get. Simple.
Easter
26 Apr 2011 Leave a Comment
in Family, Fitness, Happiness, Wellness, Work
What a wonderful weekend, despite all the questions. “What do you eat?” Haha!
Surprise party! Nothing nicer than a house full of lovely people, good food and great music. I managed to avoid all Easter eggs, but my kind niece made me two vegan puddings! Bless her heart, they were so delicious and I was so grateful. Not just for the puddings, but for the consideration.
My sleeping tablets are having no effect which means one thing : mania. More mind-numbing drugs! NOT. Patrick Holford will rescue me.
Eight months ’til I “retire.” Going to do my own thing for a while. I like massage, doing a course on sports science next month and then a course on sports massage. Hopefully will be able to make a good amount of money doing that, and I love it. I love therapeutic things.
I can see which direction I am going in : helping people and animals, not counting beans.
Dear Santa
22 Dec 2010 Leave a Comment
Dear Santa
My wish for this year is a big fat bank account and a thin body.
Please don’t mix these two up like you did last year.
Thanks.
Regards
Scrybl
Why The Buddha Smiled
14 Dec 2010 Leave a Comment
This website was created by my loves, John Barlow and Marianne Marquez. He’s in the USA and she’s in Costa Rica. It is Marianne’s gift to all her friends. I wanted to share it with all MY friends, too, it is so beautiful, uplifting, wise and lovely.
http://www.thebuddhasmiled.com/
I love all of you.
Sylvia
