Up Pops the Devil

I knew starting out there would be days like this.  I just did not know how I would handle them.  January and August are the two most trying months in my job.  I work with students of all ages and all backgrounds.  I love my job, but as with any job, it has its frustrations.  I was hoping to get through this registration without losing my patience.  I told myself I was not going to let anything get me off focus from my goal of helping anyone who crossed my path and represent Jesus in everything.  I was actually kind of proud of myself.  (Oh, there's that PRIDE thing again.)  I have been very calm, and even though some around me were flustered and panicking, I was staying on a pretty even keel until today! 

The first few students whom I helped today were transfer students from a local college.  They had done very poorly there, and they had lost their financial aid and were told to go to a community college because they would be able to receive aid.  The more students I helped and heard this, the angrier I became.  In my mind I am thinking, "If you weren't successful there, what makes you think you are going to be successful here? What makes you think you are going to get aid here because you have to show satisfactory progress, and there is no way you are going to meet the criteria?  Are you interested in an education, or just the money you can get?"  You get the idea.  Not very nice thoughts, and definitely not the thoughts Jesus would have. 

As I was ranting in my mind, I literally heard this voice say, "Who made you the judge and who made you the overseer of whether these students deserve to receive money or not?  All I want you to do is be Jesus to them and do your job."  It was a very humbling moment because it made me stop and look at myself and realize I was making judgements and being angry about something that really wasn't even any of  my business. 

I praise God that He disciplines and chastises me when I need it, and I am so thankful for His GRACE and FORGIVENESS when I sin.  I pray that I will continue to have ears to hear Him and eyes to see His will for my life.

Blessings,