Seven Years

Next month it will be seven years since I started working at New Hope.  I’m going to reminisce a little bit about how this job came to me during a difficult and sad time in my life.  At the time, I did not think the timing was right, but as I look back now I realize God’s timing was perfect.

After many years of poor health as a result of a debilitating stroke, my mother died on July 1, 2006. I had left the workforce several years earlier and had focused a lot of my energy on supporting my parents through their struggles with Mom’s medical issues. Mom spent the last 15 months of her life in a nursing home and I would make the 45 minute trip to visit her two or three times a week.  When we knew that Mom only had a few weeks to live, my siblings and I made sure that one of us was with her 24 hours a day.  At the time of her death, we were all tired and emotionally drained and I remember thinking that I needed a few months to recharge my batteries.  I was looking forward to spending the rest of the summer with my family and catching up on things around the house that had been neglected way too long. I thought that when September rolled around, I would begin the search for a part-time job.

Due to scheduling conflicts we had a week between my mother’s death and her funeral. It was a time of restlessness and I had a hard time concentrating on anything.  I usually barely glance at our local Advertiser but for some reason that Monday I picked the paper up and browsed through it page by page. I came upon an ad that said a part-time secretary was needed for New Hope Community Life Ministry in Quarryville, PA. I had never heard of it and thought it was probably a church in need of a secretary. It sounded like the type of job I would enjoy, but did I really want to pursue a job right then before my mother was even buried?  I didn’t think so and tried to put it out of my mind. The next day was July 4th and since we really weren’t doing anything I had plenty of time to think. The ad kept surfacing in my mind. Finally, I sat down at the computer and typed up a resume and faxed it to the number listed on the paper. I felt a sense of relief and figured that I would probably never hear anything, but at least I had gotten it off my mind.

To my astonishment, the next day I received a phone call from a Ginger Holler. She said she was the executive director of New Hope and had received my resume and would like to set up an interview with me. Would I be able to come in tomorrow? It’s good she couldn’t see me through the phone because I am pretty sure my mouth was hanging open in surprise. After explaining to her that my mother’s funeral was later that week, we pushed the interview off until the following Tuesday.

A few days after the interview, Ginger offered me the job and I accepted it. By that time, I was aware that it was not a church but a counseling ministry that I would be working for.  I definitely had some reservations and still thought that the timing could have been a lot better.  However, within a few months I was realizing what a blessing this job was and I am thankful that God nudged me to send my resume in and that I did not ignore His gentle persistence.

I have met many people here in this little town of Quarryville during the past seven years. Some have been clients, some have been co-workers , some have been counselors, some have been board members, some have been volunteers at the thrift store, and some have been people that I have met in various places of business here in Quarryville, such as Burger King, Subway, Rite Aid and the bank.  Some people are here for a few months or years and then move on to another job or opportunity or in the case of clients who have received the benefits of counseling, they leave with new hope and determination for their future life.  To many of these people I am just a familiar face or an acquaintance. To some, I am a friend.  In either case, I hope that I have been a presence that people appreciate and feel comfortable with.  I hope that through me, some have seen God’s love. 

I have learned through the years that people and opportunities come and go, but it is how we make the most of the opportunities and relationships that we are given that leave a lasting impression.  I am so thankful for all the people that I have learned to know through my job here at New Hope and even though I have been sad to see some move on to other opportunities and places, I treasure the time spent with them and I truly hope that they remember me as someone who they were glad to cross paths with. I pray that I will continue to be a friend and encourager to those that I interact with here in this little town of Quarryville.

Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.  ~ Colossians 3:17

~ Mary Lehman, Secretary