“May the God of hope take away your fear and fill you with joy and peace as you trust in Him.” - - Romans 15:13
Fear can paralyze; he knows this first hand. For months Lance had been trying to drum up the courage to ask his boss for a raise. He knew he deserved it; others’ requests had been granted. Why was he always the last to be recognized?
He’d do it on Friday – that way if got turned down, he’d have the weekend to recover before having to face his employer again. But how would he recover? Lance didn’t drink. He was hopeless at hiding his emotions, especially disappointment.
Then he’d have to face his Sandy. Not that his wife was uncaring – quite the contrary. But the pain she would feel for him was worse than the ache he’d feel in his own gut. Maybe it wasn’t worth the risk, he thought.
Late that afternoon he summoned the nerve to approach his boss.
“I know you called this meeting Lance, but I’d like to hijack it briefly,” he started. I’ve been meaning to talk with you about a raise!” Lance blinked twice to make sure he wasn’t dreaming. “You’ve worked extra hard this year and you always go about your job without complaint. I appreciate that and many other qualities about you,” he confided. “Thank you!”
Speechless at first, Lance managed a simple “Thank you,” noting they’d continue the talk later.
The story gets better. Lance returned home to a beautifully set, candlelit table. Sandy had prepared his favorite meal. Someone must have tipped her off, he reasoned. Maybe a formality now, but her told her the remarkable story anyway.
They embraced warmly, exchanging goose-bumps one to the other. One last kiss before they sat down for an exquisite dinner. Placed conspicuously beside his plate was a handwritten note that read: "Congratulations, darling! I knew you'd get the raise! This celebration tells you how much I love you."
While on his way to the kitchen for dessert, Lance noticed that a second card had fallen from her pocket. Picking it off the floor, he read: "Don't worry about not getting the raise! You deserve it anyway! This celebration tells you how much I love you."
Total acceptance! Her unfailing love didn’t depend on his success at work. In fact, just the opposite. If rejected by his boss - he'd be all the more accepted at home. We can be rejected by almost anyone if we're loved by one. Anxiety doesn’t stand a chance against the power of the Holy Spirit.
God of love, we learn to love because we are loved. Teach us to love not contingent upon success, money, fame or appearance. Thank you for always standing behind us, softening the blows, healing our wounds, and believing in us. Amen
