God has ways of showing up

here's a cut-and-paste from a letter i dropped a friend... i'm too lazy to write the whole thing again

when you were telling me about how that customer in the cookie aisle was telling you that jesus loves you, it reminded me of two incidents that happened in the past week. i got goosebumps when you were telling me that (in hawaii, we call it getting "chicken skin"... gross term, i know)

the first one happened last week when i was so worried and upset about another co-worker. i left her a nasty note about how she needs to pull her own weight and not dig out right when it she is scheduled. she needed to clean her tables and help stock for the next shift. i was so upset one night because she didn't do it, leaving the night shift (which i worked both day AND night that day/night) without proper stock. it really infuriated me how she was so inconsiderate (it wasn't the first time) so i wrote her a letter about how she needs to be more mindful of the next shift and pull her weight b/c the next shift is not going to like her if she leaves the place empty, and the ppl she works with are going to catch the flack as well. i'm not in the habit of writing nasty notes... but i was really upset at her b/c she dug out right at 4pm without cleaning her tables and refused to do stock when a person from the next shift asked her to (it was listed as one of the tasks she needed to do). the next day, when i went into request off for this saturday, TWO managers talked to me about the "note" i left her and told me that it was an issue that needed to be handled by management. and they told me that the regional manager was involved in this and that i will need to conference with all of them. i had an "oh-crap" moment b/c i hate sitting down w/ management b/c it never ends positively for me. so i worried endlessly for two days. randomly, i got this text from a friend that said, "God saw you struggling, and says its over. A blessing is coming your way..." it was one of those chain messages, but it was from a friend i hadn't talked to in years! it freaked me out, but gave me peace at the same time.

the second one happened earlier this week. last friday, a customer was really rude to me. he kept yelling at me for bringing water to the table instead of coffee. he wouldn't let it go and kept making a scene. i tried to shrug it off, but the guy would not stop yelling at me (he really had no reason. he was drunk. seriously). i freaked out and had a nervous breakdown in front of the whole restaurant. bad idea. i don't recommend you do that. the mean guy LAUGHED and would not apologize. the other ladies w/ him kept apologizing to the other servers b/c i would not re-service the table. (i later found out that when a customer gets like that, i honestly have the right to refuse to serve them b/c they are creating a "hostile work environment"). suffice it to say, another table that i was waiting on happened to stick around after my "breakdown" and offered to pray for me. they also invited me to their church. i usually don't go to other churches, but i heard this church does outreach to drug addicts and prostitutes, which was something my church didn't do. so i went. it wasn't what i expected, but i def felt the presence of the Lord there. during service, i sat next to the pastor's daughter. she called me later this week and we talked for almost half an hour about God, ministry, life, hobbies, and other things. she said to me at the end of our conversation, "when i saw you, you reminded me of the story of Mary and Martha"... i was kind of caught off-guard, but i think i needed to hear that, ya know? there are too many times that i'm rushing around at work stressing myself out.

knowing these things makes it a little easier to work. and i dunno... gives me a peace that God hasn't abandoned me at my job. did you feel something like that when that guy told you "Jesus loves you"?

tonight, i told most of my co-workers that "in two weeks, I can put in my two-weeks notice!!whoo-hoo!!" most of them thought i was gonna stick around this time around and not go back to school... no way, jose! less than a month left of work for me! LET'S BUST OUR BUTTS IN SCHOOL (and have fun, of course) SO WE DON'T END UP WITH JOBS SUCH AS THESE... or have second jobs like these.


...

i miss my friends at school. i miss the leaves changing color. i miss the blistering cold (cuz that means i can wear a scarf!)

i miss it.

if only time would go faster.