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PROGRAM D-7770
Have you ever had to take a stand on your job against dishonesty or cheating by a coworker? It’s not easy, is it? Fran’s coworker, Louise, tells her supervisor that she cannot sign a report for him that contains inaccurate information.
Fran arrives at the office before Louise and puts some homemade cookies on her desk, along with a card with Psalm 56:3-4 on it: “When I am afraid, I will trust in you. What can mortal man do to me?”
She and Louise catch a quick lunch together and as they get seated at the table, Louise says, “Well, I told him, Fran. And he didn’t like it. He said I was making a big deal out of this and being silly about it. But I told him I just saw it differently than he did, and while I wanted to cooperate with him, this was a matter of conscience.”
“What did he say?” Fran asks.
“He said he didn’t have time to bother with that report, so just take those expenses off the report,” Louise reports. “I know he wasn’t happy about it, but I also know I did the right thing. I could be mistaken, but I really think I saw a renewed respect for me, just the way he acted.”
Fran pats her arm. “I’m so proud of you, Louise; you’re a great encouragement to me. And the good news is, even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. You can’t lose, no matter what happens.”
“I truly feel that way, Fran,” Louise says. “But my heart was in my throat. It was not easy.”
“But a lot easier than doing it the wrong way,” Fran says, and Louise agrees.
As she gets back in her office, Fran says to Jesus, “Lord, aren’t you proud of Louise? Didn’t she handle that well? That was a growing experience for her and she’ll be much stronger from now on. And me, too, I think. Even though it was Louise’s problem, I learned a lot from it.”
I think we can all relate with Louise’s concern. Jerry may choose to try to do her harm in the future; this could affect their relationship negatively. But Louise made the right choice, and because it was right, she can trust the Lord to come to her defense and take care of her.
Sometimes discipleship is costly and can even bring us some enemies. That’s why Jesus told his disciples to count the cost before following him. And we need to remember that passage from 1 Peter 3:14-15 which says, “But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened. But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.”
