Fast’n’ Chick’n’s

This morning I read in the ‘Purpose-Filled Life’ (Rick Warren) that authentic fellowship is not supericial, surface-level chit chat. It’s genuine, heart to heart sharing and happens when people get honest about who they are and what is happening in their lives. After all “Mind your own business” is not a Christian phrase.

I was thinking of what i was going to say today and I wanted to share with you honestly about my life. how spending quality time iwth God and getting to know Him, helped me deal with difficult situation.

I started the fortnight fast with some others on Tuesday and was excited to do so because i had never fasted before and was eager to know what God would say to me and how I would grow closer to Him. i found it really difficult to go without lunch because I tend to ‘graze’ a lot throughout the day (What’s so funny PH?) It felt like I had not eaten for several days and my stomach was starting to digest itself…

But no, seriously, it enabled me to focus on God and spend quality quiet time with Him - an area in my life which needed more attention. This time of fasting and in depth prayer made me delve (or as Lisa H. says ‘dwelve’) into the words of God. Already it has drawn me closer to the Holy Spirit, develop stronger godly convictions, revelations of God’s principles and character and set spiritual goals.

Anyway, apart from fasting and praying, this week, I have been working at Red Rooster. I must say that it has been a ‘mad-chook house’ (excuse the pun). This is the job that I asked God for and was expecting it to be perfect in terms of growth. I guess it was, just not in the way I had planned.

Suprisingly, I enjoyed working - with customers and talking to high schoolers. However, I felt that the assistant manager has always had something against me and yesterday (and other occasions) made it extremely hard for me to cook chickens in peace. Nearly every shift with her I’ve had to deal with immature remarks, lazyness, unprofessionalism, ‘the swivel head’ (we all know it) and just plain bullying.

Even after placing a complaint about her to the area manager, she continued to behave this way and even more so yesterday. Yesterday, i walked in having to face her and her like-minded companions. Racist comments behind my back, constant gossiping and orders. It was a good time to utilize my zoning out skills…i was biting back the tears. I was given double the jobs as usual, for some reason but i knew that I shouldn’t be bitter about it. After all Jesus taught us to forgive each other because He first forgave us. If it weren’t for the reminders of God’s love for me and my support from others outside work, i would seriously have walked out. I tried really hard to bite my tongue and refrain fromscreaming obscenities at them and instead humoured them with courteous responses.

Apparently my efforts were not good enough and i was sent home 2 hours earlier with no real explanation as to why. I assumed it was because she simply did not like to work with me. I didn’t care though, I was glad to leave.

Even though yesterday was not one of my better days, I felt God’s presence, strength and love around me. If it weren’t for His word and ability to help me overcome, I think I would still be distressed over it.

I’m sure you have been through situations like this and will maybe in the future. Just know that ‘nothing can separate us from the love of God’, ask Him for strength and meditate on His words.

^“3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; ⁴ perseverance, character; and character, hope. ⁵ And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” Romans 5:3-5

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