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If you had a person who caused you lots of grief, would you pass up an opportunity to get back at that person? Our friend, Fran, could have gotten her boss in trouble, but because Jesus was beside her, giving her love and pity for Marilyn, she has chosen to back off and let Marilyn off the hook.
Marilyn can’t cover up her obvious relief as she realizes Fran won’t insist on her right to escalate this issue. Marilyn realizes Fran has saved her a lot of potential trouble.
“Okay,” Marilyn says, “I’ll get off a memo to you confirming what we’ve agreed to. And this will all be between us. If you can improve your rating, then no one has to know about the whole thing—right?”
“Sure, Marilyn,” Fran replies, and she gets up to leave. Marilyn closes the door behind her, and Fran has a strong feeling Marilyn may have ended up in tears.
“Jesus, if I’d been on my own, I would have kept pushing her and insisted on talking with Ed. But now I see that by backing off, I’ve shown Marilyn mercy—the way you always show mercy to me—and her whole attitude changed toward me—right in front of my eyes.”
“Well, Fran,” Jesus replies, “that’s why I guided you to back off. You had every right to escalate this matter to a higher level, and Marilyn’s lie would have been exposed. But you chose to show mercy to Marilyn. You were able to see her through my eyes, and so instead of getting angry and demanding your rights, you gave them up. Marilyn just read I Corinthians 13.”
“She did?” Fran replies. “I didn’t see a Bible on her desk? I don’t think she’s ever read the Bible, Lord.”
“No, not in the Bible, she read it in you, Fran. You are the Living Edition of God’s Word. Now, you can wait and see what will happen because you chose to be merciful.” Jesus says the words Fran longs to hear: “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
Tears come to Fran’s eyes. Just to know the Lord is pleased with her is all she needs to know. “You know, Lord,” Fran says, “even if I’d been fired on the spot, I could make it just hearing you say those words to me. I guess I don’t really need Marilyn’s good appraisal; all I need is yours.”
“If you’ll keep that clearly focused in your mind, Fran, you’ll always do the right thing,” Jesus says.
Fran has had another incredible lesson from Jesus on how to deal with difficult situations. And in the process, she’s been a witness to a woman who desperately needs to know Jesus. Who knows what will come from all this.
