NO REGRETS When I Listen for His Wisdom

One day Mary walked into my office and confronted my roommate and me, accusing us of something that we weren’t guilty of.  I found myself responding to her accusations angrily, saying things that I never thought I’d say to a supervisor. My roommate responded angrily also.  Our boss left the room and my roommate and I were left to grumble about our treatment.

Later that day when I got home, I went before God and asked Him to remove  me from the office.  I told him I couldn’t work for “that woman.”  I couldn’t understand why I had been “attacked” unjustly. I heard God’s quiet voice say to me, “I want you to apologize to her.” 

I said, “God, I can’t  apologize to her.  She accused me of doing something I didn’t do.”

“Peg, I want you to apologize to her.”

The next day as I sat at my desk waiting for Mary to come in, I realized I wouldn’t be able to do as God had asked. My heart was filled with bitterness.  I prayed, “God, I can’t do this.”

God knew I wasn’t prepared.  Mary didn’t come in that day.

When I went home after work, I’d felt I’d gotten a reprieve.  I prayed, “ Thank you, Lord,  that Mary didn’t come in today . Thank you that I don’t have to apologize.”

Then within my heart, I heard, “Peg, I still want you to apologize to her.”

“But,” I replied, “I can’t.

I began to pray. “Lord, maybe you see something in this woman that I don’t.  Help me to see her the way you do. Help me to see her through your eyes.”  As I spoke, my heart softened.  It was as though God had flipped on a large picture screen. I suddenly began to see things more clearly.  I saw my boss’ face as God once again spoke to me, “Peg, Mary just got married a year ago. She just had a baby three months ago. She’s not only starting a new job but in a new agency with all new people.”  Then God said something to me that I hadn’t expected.  He said, “Peg, I want you to ask yourself how you contributed to what happened.”  What?!!!

“But, God, I didn’t do anything!”

God whispered to my heart once again, “I want you to look at yourself.”

I began searching my soul.  I couldn’t possibly be responsible for what happened. Could I? 

I was shocked at what God revealed to me. I realized that I’d had a bad attitude about Mary from the moment she walked into my office on the first day.  It was my attitude that had shaped the future.  It was my attitude that she picked up on and responded to.; I wasn’t blatantly rude but my tone, my body language, my badly chosen words all created an environment where bitterness could breed.