Marilyn stuffed her pillow over her head to drown out the infernal beeping, but it was no use. The alarm wouldn’t stop unless she stopped it. She peeled back the covers and gave the clock an unceremonious jab. Merciful silence filled the bedroom. Sighing, she rose to a sitting position and tucked her feet into her slippers. Perched on the end of the bed, she mustered up the courage to face the day. Monday morning. Another long day at the start of another long week. Janet and Mabel were probably still sleeping soundly, with no impending deadlines hindering their beauty rest. No, they had managed their money well and were able to retire. No such luck for her. The divorce and the subsequent legal fees ensured she still had to work at least another 5 years before she could even consider retirement. Her friends were so lucky. Maybe someday she’d be able to join them in the good life.

            She plodded through her morning routine, filled Tilly’s bowl with food, grabbed her travel mug, and settled into the car. When she turned on the engine, music from the Christian station surrounded her. Instantly, her mood brightened, if only for a moment. As she pulled onto the highway, the song ended, and the DJ’s voice boomed.

            “Good morning, folks. It’s Marvelous Monday!” He was entirely too chipper for this hour of the morning. He continued, oblivious to Marilyn’s mood. “We want to hear all your good news. Let’s start the week right. Who wants to be the first to call in and tell us what makes today a Marvelous Monday?”
            Marilyn lifted her hand to change the station, not interested in hearing about all the people whose lives were better than hers, but the words that came on the radio next caused her to pull back her hand.

            “I want to thank God so very much today.”

            “That’s great news. What’s your name, and what are you thankful for?”

            “My name is Seth. I’m thankful to God because he gave me a job. After being laid off in the spring, I’d started to despair. I’m no spring chicken, so I wasn’t sure anyone would take a chance on me. But thankfully, they did. I start today. And not a moment too soon. We were behind on the mortgage and have nearly run through our savings. Thankfully, we’ve been able to put enough food on the table to feed the kids, but I was terrified we’d have to sell the house. God provided the perfect job at the perfect time. I’m so humbled to see how He worked it all out for our good.”
            “That’s amazing, Seth. I’m sure you’re excited to get back out there into the working world.”
            “Absolutely. I’ve been praising God for this opportunity ever since I got the job. He is a wonderful God.”

            “Amen to that.” This from the DJ.

            Marilyn switched off the radio, letting the silence seep through her. Seth was so grateful to have a job, and here she was, complaining about hers. It was only 5 years ago when she felt the same way. After the divorce, she’d needed this job. Needed it still, if she was going to continue paying down her debt. Without the job, she’d need to live off government handouts, and that was not an option she considered entertaining. When had she shifted from Seth’s perspective of treating her job as a gift? For that’s what it truly was. A gift from God, showing her she mattered to Him.

           She entered the office building with a spring in her step, greeting everyone she met with a smile instead of keeping her head down, trying simply to survive. To her delight, nearly all of her coworkers returned her smile. All except one.

           A nudge in her spirit told her to go after him. Daniel continued down the hall, eyes cast downward, his expression solemn. Marilyn set her things at her desk and then walked back toward Daniel’s office. He glanced up at her approach.

          “I’m sorry to bother you, Daniel, but is everything OK?”

          Deep lines etched Daniel’s face, and dark crescents underscored his eyes. “The server shut down over the weekend. I’ve been working non-stop, and I’m exhausted. But thankfully, it’s resolved now. Not that anyone cares.”

         “What do you mean?”

         Daniel shrugged. “It’s just a job, right?”

         Marilyn swallowed hard. She’d thought that earlier this morning, but the man on the radio had changed her perspective. “Daniel, thank you for sacrificing your weekend to fix the problem. It might be just a job to some people, but I am so grateful to work here. So many people are out of work right now. I know what that’s like, and I’m proud and happy to be a part of this company. And I’m proud to work with people like you who put in the extra effort to make sure we can stay in business.”

         Daniel straightened. “Thank you, Marilyn. I appreciate your kind words. Honestly, I was wondering if it was all worth it. I didn’t think anyone really appreciated what I did around here. This weekend was exhausting, and I was thinking about putting in my resignation.”

         Marilyn’s hand flew to her mouth. “Oh, no. You couldn’t. This place would fall apart without you.”

        Daniel grinned. “I think I might stick around for a while. Knowing people appreciate what I do makes it worth it.”

        Marilyn made her way back to her desk with gratitude pouring through her heart.

1 Thessalonians 5:18

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

God, so often we take your gifts for granted. Thank You for Your faithfulness to take care of us, even when we don’t recognize it. Please help us recognize Your good gifts for what they are. And please help us shine a light to those around us. Sometimes a simple thank you can make all the difference in someone’s life.