I just have to say that God is more amazing to me every single day. So this past week was a little hectic (more like insane) and I spent Tuesday being completely stressed out. I was not choosing the best response in the face of my job and the work that was piled up. I went to bed too late and woke up too early and started the day Wednesday already in a bad mood. As I was driving out of Southwood to head to work, someone started tailing me. Perfect. Just what I was hoping would happen first thing in the morning when I'm already agitated. So my first thought is to slow down, but I realized that was just cruel. So then I think, fine- I'll just put the pedal to the metal and get this joker off my tail. As I am about to do this, a little voice says to me, "Don't speed up, there will be a deer in the road." And I think to myself, "I'm sorry...what?" At that moment, I come to a rise in the road and on the other side what do I see? You guessed it. A deer. Standing in the road. So I immediately say, "Ok, God. I'm listening." And He proceeds to point out to me that if he takes the time to speak to me about a deer in the road, do I really think He won't speak to me and provide for me in more important areas? Wow. I'm humbled and encouraged and praise Him the whole way to work.
Which is where I then proceed to promptly forget this interaction and become stressed out yet again as multiple people start making demands on me and my time. So the day goes on and I get a call from a friend who says, "Let me pray for you," and prays that God would expand my time. I love God, I love prayer, don't get me wrong. But at this point, I'm thinking- Great, thanks...now I need to go back to work. So I do. No huge breakthroughs. So I go home and am discouraged the rest of the evening. Around bedtime, a thought pops into my head, "At the end of the day- God is still God. Nothing I or anyone else can do will EVER limit Him accomplishing His will." Ironically, this statement is the exact one I have shared with a friend earlier in the week in regards to her situation. Funny how God works.
So Thursday comes and I head off to work, not looking forward to the prospect of what I know is in store for me. I arrive at work (2 hours of driving later, mind you) to find that NO ONE has done what they were supposed to and now I have nothing to do. I have driven two hours to get to a county to work and they haven't done their end of the job. Great. But then I remember, a little voice that morning had told me to pack my computer and paperwork for other schools (which I NEVER do). So, I go get it from the car and I get to sit and work all day on the paperwork that has been overwhelming me. Praise God, He expanded my time. Then, I am told I can have next Thursday off as well. Another day to accomplish work in a different county. So I return home. At this point, you'd think I'd stop being so hard-headed and get the point. But....nope.
I start stressing about Friday's task, which is an autism evaluation that has to be completed and the report written (which is usually a collective 20-hour task) in a matter of three weeks. Not impossible, but improbable given the amount of other work I also have. So what happens? The client calls and cancels the appointment. YES! And to top it off, no other client could come and fill the spot. So my time was yet again hugely expanded. It was at this point that I finally knelt and prayed and repented for my stubborn attitude and refusal to surrender. God must look at me and shake his head sometimes. In a loving, 'I can't believe how hard-headed this kid is' kinda way, with a little smile on His face.
Next time, I pray the deer will be enough.
