Tag Archives: Work

Meet Aunt Sarah…

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My Aunt Sarah was a hard working woman who raised four children during the depression. She was twice divorced and supported herself by being a waitress. Sarah could have a very sharp tongue if you happened on a topic of conversation that was very controversial or very sensitive for her.

We were at a family get together and the topic of waitressing came up. I innocently said that I didn’t think that was something that I could do.

WHAT’S WRONG WITH BEING A WAITRESS???!!! This was from Aunt Sarah. I stammered that there wasn’t anything wrong with being a waitress, I just didn’t think that was the type of job for me. Aunt Sarah huffed and turned to converse with another family member. I had escaped from a tongue lashing. Whew!

Sarah was sensitive about her choice of career path. How many times do we hear today that they are ONLY a waitress? (What a waste) Yes, the words in the parenthesis are implied. We do this with a lot of what we consider entry level jobs. Yes, I realize that for many people that is exactly what they are. But have you ever thought about what the world would be like without the waitresses? Without the laborers? Without the grocery clerks? Without the uber/taxi drivers? All these jobs that I’ve named (and there are a ton more I haven’t named) are jobs that are low paying but are essential to the world moving along at a good pace. Some people love these jobs and don’t see them as a jumping off point to a better paying position.

One time when I was working “temps” they called to see if I would be interested in taking a one-week job as a janitor. They needed a fill in since the person I would replace would be on vacation. I thought, why not! How hard can it be? Let me tell you, I found muscles I didn’t know I had that week and the only thing that kept me coming back every day was knowing that it was only for a week!! But I learned that most of the jobs that we sneer at are very hard jobs.

Look around and see the “small” people. The ones who are overworked and underpaid. Give them a smile and encourage them. Call them by name if there is a nametag. Say hello, good morning, how are you? Recognize them as people who are made in God’s image. God loves them as much as He loves you.

Taking Trips

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Joe wasn’t much of a traveling guy. When his health was good he tended to stay home and not go anywhere. If I suggested a trip, he would say it was too much trouble. That changed when he had to be at home because of his health. All of a sudden he wanted to take rides and go out to eat. He had a “bucket list” of sorts. I would hear him say “I would like to go there one day” and I would make a mental list.

We took day trips to Strasburg Rail Road and Fallingwater in Pennsylvania while he was still ambulatory and not on oxygen. Now Joe had no idea what it took for me to arrange a trip. Just a day trip wasn’t bad, but one day I got the idea to take him to Ocean City, MD for a weekend. Joe was always a beach guy while I was mostly a mountain type girl. Ocean City is not in my top 10 places to visit. Since this was a bucket list type of thing, I couldn’t just get a room anywhere in Ocean City, we had to have one ocean side and near the boardwalk. It had to be off season cause we couldn’t afford several nights in the middle of the season. Joe was on oxygen and in a wheelchair for any distance so there were some special things I had to do. I got a room (handicapped accessible with shower chair) in a hotel on the boardwalk, ocean-side. I had to order oxygen to be sent to the hotel (ordered two weeks in advance!) which was delivered to the wrong hotel at first (heart attack time!!) but the concierge found it. Then the packing and the driving (over 2 hours) to Ocean City.

I have to say that it was so worth it. Although he couldn’t go on the beach, he loved to stand on the balcony and look out over the ocean. We walked up and down the boardwalk several times. While we were there we called his cousin in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware (just a “jog” up from Ocean City) and on Saturday we visited them. It was a wonderful evening.

All the work I did for these trips was definitely worth it. I’m praying the whole time we’re traveling cause I know anything can happen to make the trip a nightmare, but God always blessed us on these trips. It was one of the ways I learned to trust God and put my worries in His Hands.