Never a Dull Moment

Today was just "one of those days" where all you can do is laugh, because if you truly took it seriously, you'd not be a happy camper.

I think my number one statement today was, "Really? I mean, really?"

Had a new community service worker come in to start working off their hours--stunk to high heaven, I could smell him in the next room. Worked for an hour, only built 5 food boxes and then came and asked me how to take out the trash. I wasn't aware there was an art to taking out the trash...this was news to me.(This was after my husband explained that there was a trash can in every room, where the trash bags were, and showed the individual where the dumpster was)

Unreasonable client goes over the edge over silliness. I go get my husband to relieve the situation, and client starts causing ruckus and verbally abusing our volunteers, husband and me. Cops are called to invite the client to leave. Cops just laugh. (With us--not at us, but at the ridiculousness of the conversation that caused this client to fly off.)

In the midst of the cop scenario, husband gets a phone call from another client complaining that a volunteer yelled at her child. Husband asks me about situation as I was working downstairs in the social services office today and heard all that went on. In normal, calm voice our volunteer told a TWELVE year-old that he needed to stay in the lobby until mom was called, as the child was wandering around and started to go upstairs (to the loft that is our office). Client screams at my husband (who is diplomatically handling this irate caller) over the phone that we should not be defending our volunteers by lying and said she would be calling the better business bureau. Without skipping a beat, husband says, "I'm sorry you feel that way, let me spell my name for you so when you report us that it is correctly recorded." I didn't hear the end of it...I think the client hung up the phone.

Was it a full moon or what?!

By the end of the day we just looked at each other and laughed...because, honestly, what could we do? We can't control people's reactions.

These things happen everyday in every service organization across the world, it's a highly emotional time for people for a myriad of reasons, and sometimes it's the littlest thing instead of the real issue that sets someone off.

We make it a point to stay cool as long as we are able in these situations. For the majority of the time, people say their piece to lift some of that stress in their life, get the assistance they need, and move on with life. We try to be an example of grace and love to these people, and much of the time, our calmness will catch on and they will carry on a pleasant conversation, and sometimes even apologize for their over-reactions. Even find that they are open to talk and pray together--or even just cry together (well, I'm good at that--hubby's not much of a crier)

Then there's those times when we're just never going to win. A person may not be ready to think clearly or look at the big picture, and we can't force them to that point--it has to come to them naturally. We are ready, willing, and able to help them when they step back and take a deep breath--but we have trained our volunteers and employees that it is not their job to be abused, and to let us be the bad guys when a rough situation comes along (which is a stress reliever to them). It's also a life lesson that you aren't going to get what you want by screaming and making a scene, just in case they didn't learn that as a small child. Regardless, they are always treated as respectfully as possible, as everyone who steps over our threshold will be exposed to God's love--whether they choose to accept it or not.

There will always be days like this, and we handle it the best we can with our knowledge and the grace that God gives us...but sometimes we just sit back and have to commiserate on how funny life can be sometimes.

Stressors...the unexpected...those that get angry at us...vicious people...

It's all part of the territory. Then you have those ones, like the last client I met with today in tears over the stress relief that came from the assistance we provided their family. Those are the experiences with people that makes all the other silly stuff just fall to the wayside.

Just as Jesus left the 99 sheep to find the lost one, it's the one that "gets" it that stands as a reminder of Christ's presence is paramount in all that we do and every word we speak--the realization that in the grace they have received that we have accomplished our mission through them, and all involved are blessed. I pray today that I never get caught up in the 99 that I forget about the one that is still out there, that is in need to that extra bit of love to bring them back to the flock.