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PROGRAM D-8197
The stories of Fran and Jesus on the job are fictitious events in the life of a workplace woman who is learning to practice the presence of Jesus in her everyday life.
It’s Monday morning, and Fran’s week has started poorly. On the way to work, Jesus has convicted her about her harsh words to her mother the previous night and, frankly, Fran doesn’t want to think about it. She walks into her office and slams her briefcase on her desk and begins to think about what she said to her mother last evening.
“You know, Lord, I didn’t mean to be disrespectful to her, but she keeps giving me advice when I don’t ask for it,” Fran finds herself opening up to Jesus. But she has to admit that she just didn’t like the advice her mother gave her.
Tears start to trickle down Fran’s face. “Well, I’ve just been so lonely since Jim died, and this guy I met a couple of weeks ago—Bob—he’s been very nice to me. But my mother doesn’t think I should see him. It’s really none of her business, you know,” Fran says to Jesus, looking for some sympathy.
But the Spirit of God reminds her that Fran is indeed her mother’s “business.” She has been there for Fran time and again—especially since Jim died—and she has earned her right to offer some advice.
Trying to defend herself, Fran says to the Lord, “Well, Mom thinks it’s a mistake to go out with Bob because he doesn’t go to church or anything. But. . .” Fran’s voice trails off.
She hears what she has just said, and her heart is convicted. Her mother doesn’t want her seeing a man who is not a Christian. Fran has spent three evenings with this man and still hasn’t asked if he’s a believer or not. She did invite him to go to church with her sometime, but it was a weak attempt on her part. As she thinks about all this, she can hear what her mother said to her last evening: “Fran, how long will you expose yourself to the possibility of falling for a man before you find out if you share a common faith? Do you recognize the dangers involved here?”
Fran is struggling for an answer, when the phone rings.