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We follow the on-going story of Fran and Jesus on the job. Fran has just learned there’s a good possibility she may be laid off. Jesus has comforted her with the knowledge he will never leave her and will take care of her, so she managed to have a productive morning.
Lunch time rolls around, and Louise sticks her head in Fran’s office. “Hey, it’s time for lunch; let’s go.”
“Okay, I’ll meet you in the cafeteria in five minutes,” Fran answers. Just as she’s starting to leave for lunch, Ben, her manager, walks into her office.
“Fran, we need to find some time to talk this afternoon. How about 3 o’clock?” Ben asks in a rather subdued manner.
Fran can feel her heart beating faster. “Fine, Ben. What’s up?”
“Oh, I’ll give you all the details later,” he replies.
“Sure, okay—see you at three, Ben.” Fran begins to pray as he leaves. “Well, Lord, looks like Louise was right. This will probably be it—the big news.”
As she feels the anxiety begin to rise, she can hear Jesus saying she should not borrow trouble from tomorrow. Tomorrow has enough trouble of its own.
“Okay, Lord, I’ll just wait and see what he says. Now, I better go meet Louise.”
As they settle down at a secluded table, Louise starts in right away. “So, have you heard anything else, Fran?”
“Well, I haven’t talked with anyone else, but Ben did ask me to see him this afternoon at three, and he seemed kinda somber,” Fran reports to Louise.
“See—see what I told you. I bet you anything, he’ll drop the shoe on you then. He’ll probably see me today, too,” Louise laments, while picking at her food. “If I lose my job, what will I do?” She puts her head in her hands.
“Louise, I went through a panic attack after you left my office this morning, but I remembered a verse I read in Psalm 56 just this morning. It says whenever we are afraid, we must trust in the Lord, and it asks, ‘What can mortal man do to me?’ All this company can do to you is let you go. That’s all, Louise, and that’s not the end of the world. Jesus has promised to take care of you.”
“I knew you would say something like that, Fran, but I’m sorry. I just can’t dismiss it so easily.” Louise turns her head so Fran can’t see the tears.
“Louise, I’m not dismissing it. But Jesus is totally trustworthy, and I’m just going to keep trusting him to take care of me and my kids. He’ll take care of you, too. You belong to him.”
Fran’s words seem to have little effect on Louise. “Lord,” Fran says quietly to Jesus, “She’s not listening to me. She needs to hear it from you, I think.”
Fran turns to Louise, “You know, Louise, why don’t you take the rest of the lunch hour and go out to your car to get alone and just spend some time in prayer. Did you bring your Bible today? You can borrow mine. I think that will help you a great deal.” Fran puts her arm around Louise.
“Okay, Fran. I think you’re right. I’ve got my Bible in my desk. I’ll see you later,” Louise says as she walks off with her tray, her food untouched.
Not an easy day for Fran or Louise, but with Jesus there, they’ll get through it.