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Woman to Woman: Life in Exile

To: JuneMcrea@ustel.com
From: KellyTodd@linkmac.com

Dear Aunt June,

I took your advice. I went to the church workday and stayed from start to finish—well, almost to the finish. Mrs. Rivers had to drive me home early after I sprained my ankle climbing down from the ladder I had climbed to wash a window. The doctor says I'll need to stay off it for a few days. Now I'm on the church prayer list under two categories: sick and unemployed.

But I may not be unemployed for long. Elder Jones was assigned to the window-washing detail too. We talked about my job situation. He's the editor for the local paper, Little Creek Times, and they're looking for someone to design ads. It's not exactly my dream job as an artist, and it's only part-time, so no benefits. But I need the money. The Chevy eats gas, and Mom and Dad paid the first insurance bill, but I need to pick it up in the future. Please pray!

Kelly

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To: KellyTodd@linkmac.com
From: JuneMcrea@ustel.com

Dear Kelly,

I'm praying. Even though the job at the local paper isn't your dream job, it will show you're industrious, and the job description does have "design" in it, so it's within your field. Work is a good thing. The Bible says, "If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat" (2 Thess. 3:10). Or, in your case, "let her not drive the Chevy."

Aunt June

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To: JuneMcrea@ustel.com
From: KellyTodd@linkmac.com

Dear Aunt June,

I took the job and my ankle is better. So I'm off the prayer list, for now anyway. My first assignment was to design an ad for the local butcher. I had to go on-site to view pork chops! And guess who I had to submit my work to for approval—my high school classmate George Wells, who's been working at the Times since the day we graduated. He marked up my copy and gave it back to me for revision. Ouch!

Kelly

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To: KellyTodd@linkmac.com
From: JuneMcrea@ustel.com

Dear Kelly,

Sounds like you're learning lessons in humility as well as design! The apostle Paul's advice is better than anything I could write: "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward."

Love,
Aunt June

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To: JuneMcrea@ustel.com
From: KellyTodd@linkmac.com

Dear Aunt June,

I took your advice and worked my heart out for the Lord at the part-time job with the Little Creek Times and guess what? I got my hours cut! The truth is I really enjoyed the challenge of designing ads for the weekly. To come up with a unique logo or slogan for an ad by the deadline got my juices flowing—and my frantic prayers ascending!

The sad thing is the newspaper industry is something of a dinosaur, with so many getting their news off the Internet and blogs. I guess it's not surprising that ad sales are dropping. At this rate I'll never get out on my own.

Disappointed,
Kelly

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To: KellyTodd@linkmac.com
From: JuneMcrea@ustel.com

Dear Kelly,

I could say you're a victim of the economy, which is undoubtedly true. But you are also at the center of God's will for your life. Your responsibility is to be faithful to the Lord wherever he puts you and leave the results to him. I know you want above all to pursue a career as a commercial artist. That's a wonderful way to use your gifts for the Lord. But right now the most important thing you can do is to trust the Lord to provide for your future.

Last Sunday our pastor preached on Jeremiah 29 about the exiles. God had given them hope and promised them a future in their own land—but they found themselves living as exiles in a strange land with seventy years of waiting ahead of them. How were they to live in that situation? "Build houses and live in them.… Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you" (Jeremiah 29: 5, 7). Be patient while you wait, living in the light of God's promises and trusting that God's plans for you will be for good and not evil. That's good advice for exiles, whether in Babylon or Little Creek.

While you are waiting and sending out resumes, volunteer your time, such as babysitting for a needy mom, sitting with an elderly woman while her daughter buys groceries, or taking the youth group to the movies.

I know your heart yearns for a "real" job. I'll pray for you to use your skills to serve him. Give my big sis a hug.

Love,
Aunt June

This series of fictional e-mail correspondence is being written by three women in the OPC. New Horizons, September 2011.

New Horizons: September 2011

75 Years of God's Goodness to the OPC

Also in this issue

Almost Heaven: The 78th General Assembly

English—An Open Door in Quebec

The Task of Christian Education

2011 Timothy Conference

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