Third Week of Work: 'Be of Good Comfort'

As my work has progressed, I feel that I am beginning to become more accustomed to the life of a working mom. I think I will need more time still to feel that I am in any sort of rhythm or balance.

In regards to the story of 'Stink Eye' girl, things have dramatically improved; that is, of course, after they had gone horribly wrong. Our relationship had gotten to the point where we completely ignored each other for the duration of our shifts together. This was also based on the advice of two managers at the store. However, the store manager wanted me to confront her and if that meant a brawl in the store, so be it. He wanted me to throw down with her and make sure she knew who was boss. He also informed me that her job was in jeopardy anyway and that she needed to either shape up or be shipped out. That gave me the courage to try to do some managing. I went up to her and another girl who were standing around when the store was slow and asked them to pick something from the list of to-do items and work on it until things picked up. She subsequently laughed in my face and walked away. Nice, eh? I didn't deal with her then, but informed my manager who "reviewed the heck out of her." That basically means that she got a serious verbal warning. She since has had several hour-long talks with the managers and is now trying to be my best friend. We've actually had sentence-long conversations. Wow. I don't know if she is trying to save her job or what, but I appreciate her effort.

There have been several times in the past few weeks that I have wondered what the heck it was that I was doing all day. Was this really what I was supposed to be doing right now? Seriously? Last Sunday in Sacrament meeting, someone gave a talk on patience and read Mosiah 24 where the people were placed in bondage and were even forbidden to pray so instead they prayed constantly in their hearts. This was the result of their prayers:

13 And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came to them in their
afflictions, saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of
the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage.

14 And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a
surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions.

15 And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.

16 And it came to pass that so great was their faith and their patience that the voice of the Lord came unto them again, saying: Be of good comfort, for on the morrow I will deliver you out of bondage.

Maybe it sounds silly, but that's what I did this past week. I prayed a lot in my heart during my day for help to do the job better and for strength to be get through this time where I need to be working, this "time of affliction" for me. And I can honestly say that I truly feel that my burdens have been lifted. If this is what the Lord wants for me right now, then I will work through it. I will be patient and I will submit cheerfully as difficult as it may be. I just hope that I can demonstrate great faith and patience so that the Lord, when the time is right, can deliver me out of this bondage.