She has won staff of the year four years in a row and she is already on the way to winning the fifth. She has been promoted three times since she joined the organization six years ago. If you talk of discipline and getting result, she is exceptional. She can be counted on at any time to deliver.
I visited her office to pick up some things and because I was already familiar with her, I knocked only once and opened the door immediately. She quickly wiped her eyes and scrambled to keep something in her drawer. It was too late for her because I already saw her very red eyes and also saw her swallow a tablet.
I apologized for barging into her office, without being asked to. She waved it off and asked me to sit down. For a moment that lasted like an eternity, the still silence between us made me very uncomfortable.
Should I go straight to what brought me here or address what I met on ground? It is not my business I said to myself but what if the reason God allowed me to see her in this state is for me to do what He has sent me? What can make a brilliant successful young lady like Jane to be crying?
I quietly asked “Jane what is the problem? Are you ok? SILENCE… Jane is anything the problem? Or are you sick or something?
“If I am sick maybe that will be better.” She replied after sometime.
I adjusted and started thinking how to handle the situation. “Do you want to talk about it? I asked.
“I am not happy, I am dying inside.” She replied.
She brought out the pills she hid in her drawer and explained to me that for her to stay alert and do her job; she has to take the pill once in a while. She has been taking it for about six months and she already got addicted to it.
She tried to stop but it was impossible because she has to deliver on the tasks given to her. She is well over thirty years of age, married with one kid. What made her cry was when she went to pick her son in school and the boy refused to follow her saying she is waiting for Aunty Mary (the house girl).
“Can you believe that Mayowa? My son didn’t allow me to pick him not until the dad spoke to him on the phone.”
I just stared, dumbfounded. Then she started crying…I didn’t know what to say.
She is a good Christian as far as I can tell. I just told her crying wouldn’t solve the problem. Shared with her for about fifteen minutes and then stood up to leave.
How many gorgeous, well dressed people we meet every day, we even envy them but many are crying in their closet. If we can only care a little, we can be used to bring healing to many lives.
“If we are the body, why aren’t his hands reaching” -Casting Crowns
An evening with Jane
