Counselor’s Corner Issue 18

Trusted Teachers,

After nearly 11 months of the Salyers-four working, schooling, and living in the same place, our house was in a bad way. In an effort for self-care (see, I take my own medicine!), I scheduled a one-time professional deep-cleaning by a highly recommended service. I was excited, mentally ticking off the soon-to-be-completed domestic tasks.

The morning prior to their arrival, I told my 6- and 9-year old daughters about the expected housekeepers and was immediately peppered with questions like, "Will they make our beds?" and "Do they clean sinks?" "Yep," I replied, "They do all the things!" That afternoon when we returned home, the girls raced into the house, running from room to room. I figured they were basking in the beauty of a (finally!) spic and span home.

Little did I know that, prior to leaving for school, my girls had developed a "secret test," splashing their vanity mirrors with water, globbing toothpaste on the bathroom sink, and dribbling hot cocoa on the wood floors! Their excited return home that I had interpreted as one of gratitude for work done was instead an inspection of work done.
Their pre-laid plot-spots were scrutinized in detail for evidence of wrongdoing or mishandling. Yet, despite my first- and third-grade naysayers, it did not matter. In fact, I immediately reacted in strong support, promptly logging onto local social media groups to write a glowing recommendation and praising for a job well done. This cleaning service had endured the dirt to bring out the beauty.

Some of you work in environments that have a "secret test." Whether big or small, there are times when you knowingly and unknowingly are being scrutinized in detail for evidence of wrongdoing or mishandling. It's in these times that you must remember that YOU ARE VALUED. You do all the things. You tick off task after task. You meet demands, deadlines, and duties with Christlike character and sincere soul. And, just like I did for the housekeeper today, the opposition of others will drive me to even stronger support of you, shouting praises from the rooftops of a job well done. Those in your critique do not matter. You are highly recommended and, despite the naysayers, the goodness that you do is what matters!

Thank you for serving and for enduring the dirt to bring out the beauty.

In Gratitude,
Mindy