Grandma's Ideas

Sam was checking his list for the new job at the mill. He had gloves, lunch bag, hard hat, and heavy-duty clothes. Grandma wanted to speak to him, but why now? Sam went to her house. Grandma heard the excitement in his voice, but told him to slow down and have a seat. She bowed her head and prayed for Sam. She opened her tattered Bible and read one verse. "Whatever your hands find to do, do it with all your might." "Do this, and God will bless," Grandma said, as she kissed his cheek and sent him out the door. He grinned. He knew Grandma was just reminding him to obey God at work too. Sam thought about the Bible verse on the way to work. He decided it meant he should work hard and always be busy. He also figured it meant he should use his head when he was allowed. It no time he had been working a year. He remembered working a few 16-hour days when his co-workers failed to show up or were suddenly sick. He thought of the lighthearted jesting he took when he grabbed a broom and worked during the slow time. He kept remembering Grandma's verse. Once a big piece of equipment jammed. The boss was frantic. Sam suggested an easy fix without calling those high-dollar repairmen. The supervisor tried it. It worked. The men patted him on the back for saving their jobs for two days. Sam felt good. That first year also had two co-workers getting angry and started a shouting match. He smiled as he thought how proud Grandma would have been as he remember he should be a peacemaker. He had 'stilled the storm', kept the supervisor from firing both men, and suggested a prevention for argument-causing stress. Today, at work, the big boss called him to the office. He knew had done nothing wrong, but wondered why. "Your Supervisor, Dale, just left this office. He will be retiring in two weeks. I asked him who he would recommend as a replacement. He did not hesitate to promote you ahead of your co-workers with more seniority. I could not agree more. Would you serve as shift supervisor? The pay is much better, hours about the same, and you get leadership benefits. What do you say?" He could hear Grandma saying, "It is the fruits' of doing right." Philippians 1:10-11, "...so that you may approve the things that are EXCELLENT, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; having been filled with the FRUIT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS which comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God."