My Patience was Tried

My last post dealt with being a witness at work. Tonight I was tested. I wasn't even given 24 hours to pray myself up to it.



The story began last night. A customer called a few minutes after closing time and said that her daughter's cell phone was left in the store. She was going to have her daughter call her cell phone while we listened for the ring-tone (Freak-a-Leak, by Petey Pablo--I didn't know the song until just a few minutes ago... Wow! The lyrics include "How you like it? From the front? From the back?"--her daughter is THIRTEEN). The five of us in the store at the time didn't hear the phone, so the girl working at the customer service counter let the customer know.



Tonight I received a call from the customer letting me know that her daughter's phone was lost in the store. The customer told me that this was the second cell phone her daughter had lost, the other one was lost about a year ago. She had insurance on this last phone, so knew that it would be replaced. She told me that the last time her daughter's phone was lost in a store the manager called her back to let her know that he had caught the thief, and it was one of his associates. She told me that when she called the phone the previous night someone picked it up and turned it off, possibly pulling the Sim card. She wanted to let me know what kind of associates I have working for me, insinuating that one of my associates stole her daughter's phone. I told her I was with my associates the night before, and definitely didn't see or hear her phone. I apologized for her loss and gracefully exited the conversation. Then I went upstairs to an office with thick walls and a heavy metal door and vented my frustration. I wanted to find the phone and smash it into a million pieces--at this point if I found it I couldn't give it back; she'd think she was right.

I left the office and went back to the sales floor. I was the only one that knew I'd lost my temper. The customer was oblivious, as were my associates. Unfortunately, I knew. The scriptures started coming back to me: "Patience is better than pride.", "A man's wisdom gives him patience, it his to his glory to overlook an offense." Dang it, when God's Word is hidden in your heart it pops up at inconvenient times! I wanted to stew in my "righteous anger." God reminded me that patience is one more way to show my witness. I also know that sinning in private is still sin.

My prayer today is the same as yesterday: God, help me be a positive witness on your behalf in my workplace. Help me to exhibit patience, a controlled tongue and a work ethic that You would be proud of. Please give me the strength to be a great witness for you!

...Now I just re-read my post and realized that I also sinned when I judged the mom for allowing her daughter to use "Freak-a-Leak" as her ringtone. I've already repented.