Edgewater Grace

Today I had the opportunity to publicly disrespect someone.  I was assigned the role by a lesser ranked associate at work who had attended a workshop on the subject.  She was giving a demo of the class, and put me on the spot (unlike the folks who had taught the class who got to practice beforehand). Anyway, she was trying to teach the difference between respect and disrespect.  I was told to be disrespectful to my boss.  I couldn’t do it even though it was a game.  I felt a huge tug by the Holy Spirit not to engage in this little fiasco.

So, I told them I couldn’t be disrespectful to my boss.  So, they reversed our roles.  I was told me to be respectful, and that was very easy to accomplish.  When it came time for my boss to disrespect me, she really couldn’t do it either.  I learned a valuable lesson.

Our words hurt.  Even when spoken in such a setting, words can come back to haunt you.  Maybe its because I really like my boss, and feel so grateful to her for all she has taught me and mentored me on.  Or, maybe deep down inside I recognized this for what it was. A deceptive game meant to get another person to stand up to authority and challenge it as this girl was apt to do.  But, we are told to pray for those in authority, not to do everything in our power to abuse them for having to serve in an authoritative position.

Later on my husband told me I should have told my very conservative boss that “her purple hair was really getting on my last nerve…”  That is funny, and I wish I had thought of it.  But, I’m not an improvisator and don’t have a ready supply of jokes to pull from a hat at will.

I’m glad I didn’t participate.  No one left with bad feelings, and I stood up to the challenger (who handpicked me by the way) and told her no.  That made me feel even better.  I earned the respect from the Director and the two supervisors who were present when this event occurred.  And I let the others know that I had a brain and would stand on my own two feet with or without their approval.

Our words can hurt.  So, even if her purple hair is getting on my last nerve, who am I to tell her that? 

Have a fabulous day in the Lord