Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Whine (05/23/13)
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TITLE: Backdoor Jealousy | Previous Challenge Entry
By Carla Rogers
05/29/13 -
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I knew there were dissensions in my ranks. When your employees are your family, you can discern their hearts. Even with them doubting my view of the future and their lack of trust, I love providing for them, blessing them in many ways unknown even to themselves. But sometimes with blessings come pride and jealousy.
I hand picked my leaders, people who had the qualities of greatness, even if they couldn’t see it themselves. The man I picked for senior manager had two of the greatest qualities of them all, faithfulness and meekness. He believed my orders were right, followed through on every instruction, and never questioned my ownership of the company or my authority over him.
The dissension started with a seed of prideful jealousy, just enough to get the two assistant managers whining to each other. Behind my back, they gossiped about my senior manager’s wife, how she was not of the correct breeding for a man of his position.
I knew that his wife was not the issue; it was the state of their heart. They were jealous of the relationship I had with the senior manager since we talked face to face. I only talked with them through indirect means. I hand picked them for their positions also, which led to this situation. They had not learned the special leadership quality of the senior manager, meekness.
My heart ached for my senior manager, for the assistant managers were his older brother and sister. Then the hurt turned to hot anger. Bewildered how family can whine to each other about petty differences instead of coming to me with them, I pondered options. Ignoring the problem would only allow it to grow in the shadows, spreading to the other employees. Also, the longer the situation lingered, the harder it would be to get through to their hearts. Confronting this secret sin in the open in front of the other employees was the only option. Showing everyone, with no doubt, that Moses was my chosen leader for them.
Angrily, I called all the managers to a meeting in front of all the employees. I berated Aaron and Miriam for thinking they were of the same level as Moses, reminding them of their special place in the leadership. There are different levels of needed leadership in an organization and the owner has the right to place them as he sees fit. Before leaving, I gave Miriam leprosy for a week as a visible punishment and a reminder of my power. Distressed, Aaron was fearful of me, so he pleaded with Moses on Miriam’s behalf. Even though it was very hard to do, the situation was diffused and hearts were changed.
Father, I pray when emotions seem to be clouding my good judgment, when anger peaks its head out to blow up a relationship, or when I am tempted to gossip that I will turn to you first. Help me to be meek like Moses. Amen
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God bless~
My only suggestion would be to put a divider between the story and the prayer... something as simple as a series of *'s works well. At first, I was trying to figure out why God was praying. :)
Great job with this, and I love the unique format.