Miss Goody Two-shoes

Do whatever you feel is best for you,” my husband lovingly said when I told him I planned to quit my job. Then Ron laughed before continuing, “How many people can actually say they’ve lived out their fantasies like you have, Deb?” After thirty-five years of marriage, Ron knew me pretty well. I can’t recall (perhaps it was pillow talk) when I shared about a dream I frequently had as a child.

I would dream that I’d been accidentally locked in a supermarket overnight. Though scared to be all alone, I still had lots of fun going around eating treats from off the shelves. When morning came, someone would open the door.

I’d leave fully satisfied with a mile-wide smile on my face, ready to share with others, as did Miss Goody Two-Shoes, a generous child from an old children’s story. I’ve indeed lived out part of my dream because I worked as a demo person in a large discount superstore. I enjoyed the pleasure of sampling delicious “free food” while being paid to promote products to passing customers. It’s not often that a Christian can publicly witness about their love for Jesus so openly in the workplace.

Yet I was able to do this for more than three years.

As I shared with coworkers about my faith and family, blessings flowed. I felt the presence of holy angels as they connected our hearts in friendship.

I’m sure some of the ladies instinctively sensed that Heaven had brought us together to share sunshine and laughter, gifts of encouragement, and hope. My coworkers brought happiness and joy into my life just by caring.

They learned from me how difficult, sometimes unpleasant, it is to be the parent of a special-needs adult child. They understood and shared in my pain. Yet Jesus knew I lacked willpower to resist snacking on all those demo goodies at work and that being overweight causes me stress. Together we made a wise decision. It was time I left, though wearing my mile-wide smile. December 18, 2005, was my last day as a demo person at the superstore. I know Jesus gave me that job so I could practice being comfortable and speaking with people I didn’t know in preparation for future jobs.

So Miss Goody Two-Shoes was good to go —go wherever Jesus would lead.