Making her way into the kitchen she was thanking the Lord for delay start on her coffee maker, as she could smell the strong brew already hot in the pot! She poured a cup and sat at the table picking up her Bible which resided there throughout the day, unless needed of course.
"Let's see, where am I? Leviticus, oh yes," she said aloud, though no one could hear her, with a heavy sigh. Wearily, she stumbled through four chapters, continually distracted by duties that were popping into her head. Did I remember to put that memo on Jim's desk? I can't forget to pick up pipe cleaners for Sunday School! I wonder if I should pack my lunch or eat out again? When those distractions creeped into her consciousness, she dutifully dispelled them, and continued to read.
At 8 am, she was in her car on the highway and headed toward the office where she worked as an executive assistant. Answering phone calls, making appoitments, making sure those appointments were kept, etc.
It was only 8:20 when she turned off of the exit, plenty of time for a little breakfast. She drove to the drive-thru and ordered a creme-filled doughnut and a latte, after all, you can never have too much coffee. As she pulled to the window, Glenda, the regular worker Mon.-Fri., was smiling at her. "Why, hello, got an early start, today huh? Missed you yesterday."
"Yeah, yesterday I pressed snooze twice. I was dressing as I drove!" She smiled and replied, "How's Andrew doing? When's graduation from boot camp?"
"Oh, he's doing great! He's having a hard time, but it's only two more weeks. Going to write him another letter on my break, if I ever get one."
"Well, I'll see you tomorrow Glenda."
"I'll be here."
Beep. Beep. Beep. She rolled over on her pillow, squinting in what felt like the overwhelming brightness of the rising sun. "Why do I have to get up so early?" She thought to herself? Slowly she clambered to her feet and made her way to the coffee maker. "Just one more work day, and then I can sleep in!"
Settling into her kitchen chair she opened her Bible and sipped her coffee, just as she did each morning.
As she ran to her car, she realized she'd left her brief case inside, "Are you kidding me," she muttered under her breath as she waved to the neighbors across the street.
She was only five minutes later than desired when she exited the highway. She couldn't believe how light the traffic had been for rush hour. 8:25, she debated whether to stop for her doughnut. Ultimately, she decided for it. Today was Friday and she knew her boss wouldn't make his way to the office before 9 am. If she were five minutes late he would be none the wiser.
She pulled into the familiar drive-thru and ordered her usual, but as she drove to the window she realized that something wasn't the usual. Janice, the manager, came to accept the payment. "Why hello there," she greeted her with a bright smile.
"I thought Glenda would be here today, I read an article online I thought she'd like. I even printed it for her." As she spoke she noticed the suspicious expression on Janice's face. "I'm sorry to tell you this, but there was an accident last night. We're all very distraught, um, well I guess there's no easy way to say it, so here goes: Glenda's dead."
Dread filled her heart. What? Dead? She couldn't be, she was fine yesterday! The worst feeling filled her soul, "I never told her!" she began to panic. "I never told her about my Lord. Everyday I saw her, and we talked about politics, we talked about shopping, our favorite foods, our jobs, and our families in our brief encounters. But I never mentioned the name of Christ...
Very Thought Provoking. So many to tell and so little time. We just never know.
ReplyDeleteI worked for two years in fast food while in High School, and it's amazing how much of a relationship one develops with a "regular" it's true that we can actually witness to someone we see for only two minutes a day. I know I have. That wasn't necessarily my "inspiration." Just trying to convey the thought that we have opportunities everywhere and refuse them.
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