I don’t believe I’m alone when I say I struggle with being content. I have often wanted for what I could not, or did not yet, have. Wanting, wanting, wanting what was just out of my reach.
Yesterday I got two phone calls before 8am, waaay before. Both were schools calling to ask me to teach for the day. Both callers got the same answer for me, “no.”
To get the full effect of this story you need to know that two weeks ago my assistant manager at the hardware store where I work told me she would be away all this week and would need me to work everyday. In good faith I said, “sure, I’d be happy to help.” (read: I have bills to pay and more hours = more money. I wasn’t going to turn that down)
Yet in the back of my mind I knew that I might possibly get a call to substitute teach. And…I love to teach. It’s more than just what I went to school for, it’s what I love. I love to see anyone go from confusion or ignorance to understanding; being part of that is truly special and unique each time it happens.
When the first call to teach came in I had to make a choice. Do I:
1) call my boss and just say, “I can’t come in”
or
2) do I suck it up and say no to what I really want to do?
Answer= option 2
About 50 minutes later the second call wakes me up and I am faced with the same dilemma. Same questions, same answer.
I get to work and spend a good two hours being bummed that I’m mixing paint and not reviewing the “nines times tables.”
Today on my lunch break I get a call from one of the schools. They want to know if I can sub next week. Answer: yes! I’m free of the hardware store on the two days.
Why am I telling this story? Because last night I wrote that I wanted the choice I made to be an evidence of my trust in God’s faithfulness. Being at the store was not what I desired, but I was content. And today I was watching and I saw a glimpse of what God does with that faithful, trusting contentment. Thanks for reading this. Today was a good day.
reading well 