Twenty-four-hour Week

After officially retiring from a nursing career, which spanned fifty years, I was asked to be the director of a small home care agency.

The job was not physically strenuous. Furthermore, free transportation was arranged to and from the job as one of the coordinators lived right around the corner from me. I worked four or five days a week, as needed. My patience, I learned, became a source of encouragement and cohesiveness at the agency.

One day the owner of the agency walked in. Without much ceremony and looking directly me, he abruptly announced, “I am cutting your work hours down to twenty-four hours a week.”

 I opened my mouth to ask for an explanation. However, I could sense the Holy Spirit restraining me. I wasn’t the only one surprised by the announcement. Yet when the other staff members tried to bring up the topic for discussion, I quickly discouraged the conversation. Again, I felt the Holy Spirit was advising me to do so.

Traveling to new countries is my delight, and I had several trips planned for that year. Now I wondered, How will this weekly work-hour change affect my travel plans? Well, 2014 ended up being the year I traveled the very most. In fact, I traveled to eight countries and three continents and the Caribbean that year. In addition, I was a financial blessing to more people than I had ever been before.

God wanted to confirm that He is the Source of my blessings. My job was just another source of blessings. When I discovered the promise in Psalm 138:8, I could describe my feeling as one of exhilaration. It was as if I had found precious jewels and gold. I can hardly comprehend how important I, along with the desires of my heart, am to God. What blessings He brought into my life despite the reduction of my weekly work hours!

God is faithful, and you can trust Him to fight all your battles.

Vashti Hinds-Vanier