Advent Reflection | Monday, December 7

Today’s A Weary World Rejoices story comes from Barb Friberg:

The year of great pain.

I was a computer programmer. I had worked on programs for about 10 years that I knew very well. My programs set up the shipping department for the warehouse. I worked in a language called COBOL. It was easy for me to make changes and I had many tests set up that would be used to make sure I coded correctly. I got a great salary, and I was living in the beautiful city of St. Cloud, Minnesota.

Then, the computer world changed significantly. My company moved the programmers to a new language and a new location. For years I was moving from position to position. It was tiring and destroyed my self-confidence. One day the boss told me that my position had been eliminated. My heart stopped. I had savings so I was not totally broke.

For weeks I struggled. It was hard to look for another job because there were no jobs that needed my skills. I met with a counselor. We discussed many things but one thing was important to me that day. Why not look for a new kind of job? Find and develop new skills. That advice was so important to me. I left there and began to think of other things that I would like to do. I needed groceries and so drove to the nearest shopping mall. There was a Barnes and Noble bookstore that I loved to visit. I walked toward it and saw the sign, “We are hiring.”

I got the job and spent years managing books and learning many new skills. I even learned to make coffee.

No greater miracle could have come my way right then. Praise the Lord for He is kind and His mercy is everywhere.

Luke 1:46-55

And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.”

Visit here for more Advent events, resources, and information.