Sometimes the right decision is not convenient

This morning my husband reminded me, for the fifth time, that we had to leave the house early so I could get to work early so I could pick up our son by 5:30pm. My mother-in-law watches our son during the day while we are at work, but today she had to leave the house early.

I woke up 10 minutes earlier than usual and even packed my lunch the night before so we could make it out of the house on time. We still left late. I got to work 20 minutes later than I should have on a normal day, let alone a day I need to be early.

All was not completely lost, however. At my job, we accrue leave every pay period. I have available leave that I can use. Unfortunately, I am always using it because I am always late. I really don’t like putting in leave so often because I think it looks bad that I am consistently late.

Today was different. My supervisor was out of the office and the woman who saw me come in late left early. If I wanted to, I could leave early without taking leave and no one would know, no one except God that is. Even though a person wasn’t watching me at that moment, God always is. Thus began the bargaining process.

Lord it's just this once; don't I usually put in leave when I'm late? It's just for today; I'll stay late another day to make up the time. God, other people's supervisors excuse 15min. and my supervisor always approves mine, can't I get away with it just this once?

Then I had to look at myself. I pride myself on being honest. I like that even if everyone around me is doing the wrong thing, I'm doing the right thing. But what about today? Do I leave early and ask God to forgive me, because I know He will? Or, do I take leave even though I know it looks bad to my supervisors for me to use leave so often?

Then the Holy Spirit reminded me, “[Y]our Father who sees in secret will reward you openly” Matthew 6:6. Ok so that verse is talking about giving but I think it still applies. As my Pastor explained on Sunday, I could take immediate gratification and just leave, or I could be patient and wait for a better reward. When put like that, there really is no comparison. Doing the right thing before God is infinitely greater than trying to.please a human who does not hold my destiny in his hands.