Smiling Through Troubled Times

"Boss, masayahin kayong tao no?"

That compliment my operator handed me almost caught me off guard.

I had been working the long hours at the production office without supervision for almost two weeks now--and to my surprise, I had adusted to the rigorous task better than I expected.

I laughed a little and told him, "Syempre!"

Sometimes I try to be a bit more serious because I don't want my subordinates to think I lack the maturity to handle a supervisory position. And I don't want the other engineers to think I'm too kalog. But one's true personality will always shine through in the end, no matter how hard we try to act differently. And add to that how thankful to God I was that the day was nearly over and nothing had gone wrong.

Little did I know that just a few hours after I heard that compliment my smile would be tested.

To make it easy, let's just say something did go wrong, and it was my fault. I was supposed to do something but I forgot. And just because I forgot to do that one tiny thing, I delayed work and troubled several departments for an agonizing sixty five minutes just to get things back in order.

If it was just me that was affected, I could've smiled through it all, scratched my head, and stick out my tongue in humor.

Of course, that wasn't the case. I saw how the senior engineer held her head like she had a migrane through the whole ordeal. Then came the scolding. And the extended hours of work because my replacement was busy. Last came the most crushing blow---realizing that I couldn't make it to the KEM Outing anymore because I was too late in leaving work.

I just shut down. On the bus, on my way home. Shut down. The joy I felt earlier evaporated because my mind was too consumed with errors, my body too exasperated with the day's burdens, my heart too tired with the emotional stress.

Scripture tells us to always be thankful in spite of our circumstances, our disappointments and trials. Because God never leaves us or forsakes us, we know that things will always turn out for our benefit in the end.

I got home and ordered pizza for the family. We ate and talked as we watched TV. And as the night went on, my smile was back. As I said, no matter what happens, one's true personality will always shine in the end.

I'm the kind who smiles through troubled times--because I know God is looking out for me.