The power of forgiveness at WORK

A broken nose, black eyes, and some new teeth.   My friend Dodie Robey is a respected business woman here in Wichita Falls.  She owns Upscale Resale Consignment Shop and has been building and growing for over 8 years.  We met through a program that changed my marriage.  She checked out my business and I checked out hers.  We have volunteered together, learned together, shared ideas and feelings together.  We have double dated with our husbands at our favorite local Mexican restaurant.  She is a member of the National Association of Christian Women Entrepreneurs. 

Last Monday, a man came into her store to rob her.  He assaulted Dodie and her employee Karen.  In fact, he broke Dodie’s nose and some teeth.   He left both women bruised and bleeding. 

What has occurred since that day is nothing short of a miracle.  Dodie and her husband Bob began asking for prayers of healing and forgiveness for the man.  There has been a ripple effect of peace and transformation that is a living testimony.  The shop opened again for business on Monday August 16th, a week after the assault.  On Sunday night, I had the great privilege of attending a prayer session with Dodie and 30 or more friends in her building.  We sang, we hugged, and we prayed for the fear to be taken away.  We prayed for the man who felt compelled to take this action.  There was not a drop of anger or hatred in the room.  All grace and healing. 

Yesterday, Tuesday the 17^th, the man was caught.  Last night Dodie came to the open house gathering that we were hosting here at my new office.  She is bruised, has a few new teeth, but she is my hero.  She is strong and wise and beautiful.   She is victorious. 

Dodie sat and talked with me for a while and shared her experience.  Here are the important lessons that I became aware of from watching this event unfold and hearing her share:

1.  She is not giving up her business.  It is her mission and her calling.  It is her joy.  She knows that God has called her to this mission field that happens to be housed in an upscale consignment shop.  What small things make you consider giving up?
2. She is aware of her provider and protector God.  He has used this event as a faith story that has rippled out across our interconnected web world.  She went boldly back to work before the man was put behind bars.  She felt God’s safety.  How is God using your story?  How are you protected? 
3. She is willing to forgive and move forward.  We all have reasons to blame others for painful experiences in our life.   We can find fault in any direction if we look with our “fault-finding” glasses on.  Choose the other pair each day….the “forgiveness” glasses.  They are much brighter and not covered in smudges.  Who do you need to forgive? 

This is the power of forgiveness.  It affects us at home and at work.  It changes how we “see” the world.  Let yourself be changed.  Choose to forgive.

Visit Dodie’s website at www.shopupscaleresale.com.