Encouragement

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Making The Best Of A Rough Day
© 2008

by

Stephen A. Peterson


“What a wasted day this has turned out to be,” complained Army Sergeant First Class Sheila Barnes, Supply Sergeant, Company C, 1st Battalion. “Here I am exhausted, and I haven’t accomplished an ever living thing for this day. The First Sergeant gave me this twenty-two page supply list and he expects me to have this list filled in five days! Help!”

Within two hours of receiving her “To Do List” from the First Sergeant, Second Lieutenant Ralph Cummings from the 2nd Platoon submitted a requisition for fifteen replacement protective masks and as many decontamination kits. He wants them within three days. First Lieutenant Miriam Meyers from 3rd Platoon submitted a request for twelve pistol belts, twelve canteens and twelve first aid kits. She wants them within a week as she wishes to send her unit out for a field training exercise (FTX). Sergeant Barnes’ friend from a sister company, and a Supply Sergeant herself shows up full of worries about her runaway teenage daughter. She expects Sergeant Barnes to listen to and comfort her. And Sergeant Barnes’ husband showed up for lunch at her unit filled with enthusiasm about having received his promotion to Sergeant Major. And their 15 year old daughter came home from school determined to tell her about everything that happened in school to include her “A” grade in advanced algebra and physics.

Within less than forty minutes the Battalion Chaplain, Major Brian Simpson and the Battalion’s prayer group scheduled to meet at the Barnes’ residence will arrive. Automatically Sergeant Barnes began to straighten up the coffee table, make some coffee; get the coffee cake; chase the dog out of the house; feed the bird; put away the dishes; pick up the Bible; it fell open to the Book of Job. She sees this verse. It’s Job crying out: “Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations.” (Job 21:2)

Collapsing in the nearest easy chair, Sergeant Sheila Barnes thinks to herself, “A wasted day? Well, maybe I didn’t accomplish one of the things I had been given or the things I wanted to. But all day I have listened. If just one person has been consoled, felt loved, felt important, felt needed, felt good about themselves by my listening, then I guess this day have been one of my better days!”

What Sergeant Barnes experienced is common to every working person at may stages or points in time in their work lives. They key is how we choose to seek relief in a busy stress filled day. Sergeant Barnes just so happened to access her Bible at a critical moment of her day. The Bible and momentary immediate prayer are always available to give one comfort and relief—and its free for the taking!

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