Being A Servant
Stories
LECTIONARY TALES FOR THE PULPIT
Series III, Cycle A
Danny looked at the document. He was standing at his secretary's desk. He scribbled something on the paper and threw it in front of her. "I need it today," he barked as he walked away. The door to his office slammed behind him.
Stacy hung her head. She worked hard and tried to do her work quickly, and still she felt like she was nothing more than a doormat. Danny worked long, long hours, but Stacy had a family. She worked ten hours and didn't even stop to take a lunch at times.
She tried her best at her work. She was an excellent speller and knew how to create a letter out of mumbled dictation. She was great at taking messages and remembering who was and wasn't in the office on a particular day. Why then did she feel so expendable? So useless?
Stacy talked to her husband and shared her frustration. She had worked for Danny a year, and in that year had only received one sincere, spontaneous compliment about her work. Stacy wasn't the type to go looking for compliments, but she needed to know if her work was acceptable, needed improvement, or just what her boss wanted. She had no way to tell.
So she resigned. Her boss was furious. "And just where will I get someone this late in the year?" he shouted at her. He fumed and stormed away. He turned toward her just before he reached his office. He told her to forget the two week notice. She could leave today.
Stacy couldn't believe it. So she was expendable. Disposable. She had been correct in her fears. She boxed up her stuff and walked out the door.
She drove out of the parking lot and suddenly, as she looked behind her, she felt a huge weight lifted from her shoulders. It was as if she were free. She didn't know what she was going to do next, but it wouldn't be taking a job anything like this, she promised herself. She headed for her husband's office. Maybe she could take him out to lunch.
Stacy enjoyed exactly three days of "freedom" as she called it. Then a friend called her and asked if she was interested in working for a lawyer who needed a competent, trusted secretary. Would she consider it? Stacy's knees felt weak. She would love to work, but what if the boss was rude? And what if he treated her like a dog? She wouldn't be able to stand it.
Her friend begged her. "Please, Stacy. You have my word. He is really, really nice. He is a faithful member of our church and I have worked with him on church council. I will bet my life on the fact that he will treat you fairly and kindly. Anyway, I threatened to sue him if he isn't nice to you...." Her friend laughed. "I was just kidding, Stacy. Give him a try. Just call him and talk to him."
So Stacy did. Her fingers trembled as she dialed the phone. "Hager Law Office" said a very friendly, older male voice. Stacy swallowed.
"Good afternoon. I'm looking for Ron Hager. This is Stacy Evensen." Stacy heard a whoop at the other end. "I knew it! I knew you would have a great telephone voice! Can you come and meet me today?" The man was excited. He was obviously Ron.
They met and they looked at each other. Ron explained that his wife was ill and she had been his only secretary over the last 37 years. He promised not to call Stacy "honey." He smiled at her. She decided she would help out for one week and then she would see if she wanted to continue.
"You drive a hard bargain. But for one week, at least I'll have a great secretary!" Ron was excited.
Ron made coffee in the morning and brought a mug to her. She was embarrassed, but Ron insisted that he only made coffee because the smell woke him up and he didn't want the pot to go to waste. Besides, he wanted to do that for her since she had graciously agreed to help him out just for the week. He smiled at her. The week flew by.
They worked together well. Ron asked her often to listen to an opening or closing argument. He wanted an honest critique. She decided to give her job a try for another week. And another week. Soon she had been there three months. Ron's wife recovered from her virus and came to work alongside Stacy. Stacy heard all about their five grandchildren and Ron in turn heard all about Stacy's three children.
Yes, they worked well together. There was mutual respect. There was mutual friendship.
Stacy hung her head. She worked hard and tried to do her work quickly, and still she felt like she was nothing more than a doormat. Danny worked long, long hours, but Stacy had a family. She worked ten hours and didn't even stop to take a lunch at times.
She tried her best at her work. She was an excellent speller and knew how to create a letter out of mumbled dictation. She was great at taking messages and remembering who was and wasn't in the office on a particular day. Why then did she feel so expendable? So useless?
Stacy talked to her husband and shared her frustration. She had worked for Danny a year, and in that year had only received one sincere, spontaneous compliment about her work. Stacy wasn't the type to go looking for compliments, but she needed to know if her work was acceptable, needed improvement, or just what her boss wanted. She had no way to tell.
So she resigned. Her boss was furious. "And just where will I get someone this late in the year?" he shouted at her. He fumed and stormed away. He turned toward her just before he reached his office. He told her to forget the two week notice. She could leave today.
Stacy couldn't believe it. So she was expendable. Disposable. She had been correct in her fears. She boxed up her stuff and walked out the door.
She drove out of the parking lot and suddenly, as she looked behind her, she felt a huge weight lifted from her shoulders. It was as if she were free. She didn't know what she was going to do next, but it wouldn't be taking a job anything like this, she promised herself. She headed for her husband's office. Maybe she could take him out to lunch.
Stacy enjoyed exactly three days of "freedom" as she called it. Then a friend called her and asked if she was interested in working for a lawyer who needed a competent, trusted secretary. Would she consider it? Stacy's knees felt weak. She would love to work, but what if the boss was rude? And what if he treated her like a dog? She wouldn't be able to stand it.
Her friend begged her. "Please, Stacy. You have my word. He is really, really nice. He is a faithful member of our church and I have worked with him on church council. I will bet my life on the fact that he will treat you fairly and kindly. Anyway, I threatened to sue him if he isn't nice to you...." Her friend laughed. "I was just kidding, Stacy. Give him a try. Just call him and talk to him."
So Stacy did. Her fingers trembled as she dialed the phone. "Hager Law Office" said a very friendly, older male voice. Stacy swallowed.
"Good afternoon. I'm looking for Ron Hager. This is Stacy Evensen." Stacy heard a whoop at the other end. "I knew it! I knew you would have a great telephone voice! Can you come and meet me today?" The man was excited. He was obviously Ron.
They met and they looked at each other. Ron explained that his wife was ill and she had been his only secretary over the last 37 years. He promised not to call Stacy "honey." He smiled at her. She decided she would help out for one week and then she would see if she wanted to continue.
"You drive a hard bargain. But for one week, at least I'll have a great secretary!" Ron was excited.
Ron made coffee in the morning and brought a mug to her. She was embarrassed, but Ron insisted that he only made coffee because the smell woke him up and he didn't want the pot to go to waste. Besides, he wanted to do that for her since she had graciously agreed to help him out just for the week. He smiled at her. The week flew by.
They worked together well. Ron asked her often to listen to an opening or closing argument. He wanted an honest critique. She decided to give her job a try for another week. And another week. Soon she had been there three months. Ron's wife recovered from her virus and came to work alongside Stacy. Stacy heard all about their five grandchildren and Ron in turn heard all about Stacy's three children.
Yes, they worked well together. There was mutual respect. There was mutual friendship.
