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Writer's pictureShannon McNabb

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions

Can I get a compass that points me to God?
Navigating Life

We are all trying to make the right decisions in this life. Right for you or right for everyone else? Right for now or right for the long-term?

There were times when I would approach my boss’ office, knock and wait for her to invite me in. I could walk into her office with work-related concerns; but it wasn’t until I had worked a while with her, watched her interactions with others, that I learned I could also share personal concerns with her, when appropriate of course. When I started out in the organization and first met Sue, let’s just say I was a few rungs down the ladder from her position. There was nothing about her posture that told me to keep my distance. I kept my distance because of my own misguided perceptions and from observing others who seemed intimidated by her. Sue was never timid about pointing out when someone was creating slack at the detriment of all those within her department. She poured her heart and soul into her work, expecting others to give their all on the job as well. I have seen her work just as hard to do for others in her service to the Lord, as she did to serve our mutual employer. In the background, she served with no expectation of recognition. To have been such a strong leader, she was a humble servant.

For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

James 2:26, NKJV

After working in her division for a spell, under other managers, I mustered up the courage to apply and then to accept the offer to take the seat at her assistant’s desk. I was excited, eager, and terrified! By this point, I approached her with a bit more confidence but I was afraid I would disappoint her. I realized the ones who didn’t care for her authority were the ones who were more about their own titles and paychecks than about the future of the organization and the community we served. Her posture was not one of other vice presidents. Her posture was one of “Whatever the job is, I am right there with you.” She rolled up her sleeves, physically and metaphorically, and worked until the job was done. When the job was completed, the whole team was to be cheered. She never claimed the credit for herself.

When I began working directly for Sue, no longer working for her under the directions of another manager, I began to know her better, not only as the VP, but as someone I could learn a lot from – how to be a professional, a woman, and how to be a friend. She taught me solid business principles and held me accountable just as she did everyone else. She taught me that it’s okay to not have all the answers but not to stop looking for them. This respected, intelligent, beautiful woman became my mentor.

With my daily proximity to Sue, I began to learn the little things she appreciated and how she showed others her concern for them. Sue never missed a single person’s birthday within her division. She’d make it a point to reach out to them and wish them a happy birthday. This wasn’t to win any popularity contest. Sue saw everyone as valuable.

Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

John 14:9, NKJV

Twenty years later, I still call her my mentor and have more respect and admiration for her than any other person I have met along the way. When I have the opportunity to celebrate her birthdays, I don’t have to go to someone else and ask, “What should I get her? Do you know what she might like?” I have learned her likes and dislikes well enough by now to know what she may cherish and what she may sweetly re-gift to someone it better fits. I’ve leaned in when she talked, appreciated her recounts of her happy childhood memories. I know her and she knows me. As Sue’s assistant, I strived each day to not let her down, not to be flippant with the trust she had given me. She offered me an opportunity to grow and to serve within the organization. I wanted her to be glad she made that decision.

The decision we all want to make, I believe, is the one that pleases our Creator and brings us the greatest peace. Notice I said greatest peace, not perfect peace. We won’t get the latter until we are in God’s Holy presence. In this moment, on this turf, we practice for those heavenly days, getting to know God better, knowing what He likes and what He dislikes, so we make decisions that please Him. I am so thankful our Father has always taken my very bad decisions, the ones where I listened to my own shortsighted, hairbrained ideas and He repurposed those messes into a testimony worth sharing.

...be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Do not neglect the gift that is in you….Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you. 1 Tim. 4:12-16, NKJV

Do you have someone offering you an opportunity to grow? They see something in you that you just don’t see in yourself – and they are willing to invest in you so that you can? Sue invested in me and I am beyond grateful she did!

God sees something in you. He should. He put it there! Have you been spending time with God, or have you been asking everyone else, “What is He like?” Are you praying continually and reading His word to really get to know Him yourself? Through others you will learn about Jesus, but through a personal relationship with Him, Jesus will become your Friend and your Mentor, making all life's decisions much easier to navigate. When you mess up, He’ll be there to pick you up and make a beautiful testimony out of the mess.


Scripture taken from:

American Association of Christian Counselors. (2001). The Care and Counsel Bible: Caring for People God's Way (New King James Version ed.). (E. H. Tim Clinton, Ed.) Nashville, TN, United States of America: Thomas Nelson.



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Great read!

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5 üzerinden 5 yıldız

I shared this on my Facebook. It's so good! I had to share,

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Thank you for commenting and for sharing!

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