Doing What is Right

Matthew tells us to follow the right path, and in return, our needs
will be met. In today’s society, the value we place on material wealth and power renders this a daunting task. We are blessed with so much, yet our bounty keeps us from doing what is right. Following the word of God, often crying out to us, yet barely discernible, requires great courage and faith.
As a single mother in Washington, I didn’t feel I had many options. Although I longed to savor every minute of my son’s quickly passing years, economics required me to work hard to keep up with the DC pace. With my hard-earned qualifications, I landed a job that allowed me to maintain a pleasant lifestyle and keep my child in private school. It was truly the position of my dreams –- finally directing strategy and overseeing programs rather than carrying out other people’s directives. But as a senior manager of an international development non-profit, my position required extensive travel to Latin America and Africa. This meant trips up to three weeks in length.

Leaving my son was indescribably anguishing. As the taxi drove away from my house to the airport, my heart was crushed. As the airplanes lifted off, my sense of responsibility tore me to shreds for leaving my only treasure behind, in someone else’s hands. The vulnerability of this young boy as I traipsed across the African continent was unbearable for me, and I was always relieved that the hours of work were endless, distracting me from what I knew was absolutely wrong. But what choice did I have? I had to work and certainly “needed every penny of the salary to survive.” But I knew God was telling me to change for quite some time.

In a tiny rural town in Kenya, as I observed with pride the business my company had helped to start with local farmers, my decision was made. A tattered man, appearing out of nowhere, first got my attention and then spit on me. As I washed myself off in the midst of the onlookers, I knew deep inside that I was going home to stay. The chairman of the company I was visiting, quite shaken that I would receive such treatment, looked at me deeply and said that God was speaking to me and I needed to listen. I agreed serenely, yet I knew we were talking about two different messages.

Later, while being escorted closely by local colleagues, the same man, God’s messenger, no doubt, somehow found me again. He grabbed my arm and began pulling me away from the crowd. The local men pounced on him like animals, and I was left to watch my messenger receive his reward for opening my eyes. I prayed God would let me get home to implement his Word.

Shortly thereafter, I resigned from my position, with no job prospects in sight and no money in the bank. I was afraid, but I knew I was right.

I knew God would not let me fall after such a clear message. Within 24 hours of my resignation, I was offered a consulting assignment in another field, with another company, doing something completely different. This assignment would allow me to work from home, close to my son. It provided me the opportunity to do what I knew was right. The change remains hard for me; the money and the influence are gone. But most importantly, my son has the mother he deserves.

Let us listen when God whispers so there is no need for crying out. Let us have the courage to do what is right when we hear Him call and, finally, the faith to know God will provide all we need.