No silver platters

In my line of work in the field of banking and customer service, I deal with different types of people everyday.

Clients can be nice and appreciative of the work and efforts I have made in service to them and some can be demanding with the strong opinion that I am just someone hired to do their bidding.

Over the years in this field, my temper and patience in dealing with irate people had waned. I turned from a cheerful and happy employee into someone who works just methodologically and can’t wait to get out of the office at 5 o’clock on the dot.

When I joined SFC, as part of my commitment to be a better person, I tried my best to stretch my patience and control my temper. I constantly remind my self to find joy in the routine of my job, smile and be cheerful despite the nuisances and difficulties I face day in and day out.

Everyday I pray and ask the Lord to give me patience, but it seemed like the harder I pray, the more difficult the customers get making it harder for me to keep my cool, leaving me feeling frustrated and with a heavy heart.

It was during our Prayer Assembly last July 26 that a realization dawned on me. I had been looking at the situation the wrong way - I had this notion that if I asked the Lord for patience he will ‘magically’ make me a patient person, but as our Chapter Head brother Eduardo Racoma said during part of the discussions:

“… if you ask God for patience – he will not give it to you on a silver platter…”

I understood that the Lord is already helping and teaching me patience by challenging me and giving me difficult persons to deal with everyday, I just fail the lesson every time.

I fail because I have been asking the Lord to make it easier for me by eliminating people and situations that will test my tenacity, when I should have been praying for grace and strength to overcome my negative emotions.

I was truly enlightened with that simple phrase and it became sort of my mantra – repeating those precious words in my mind and heart with one deep breath feels like expelling the negativity building within making my heart feel light and cheery again.

How convenient would it be if all that we ask and pray for be given to us on a silver platter? But of course God does not work that way, instead of silver platters he gives us challenges that will test and strengthen our resolve - stepping up to the challenge, learning  and succeeding is the only Christian way to go. Let us be encouraged in knowing and believing that God is with us every step of the way.