From my perspective, I had been hounding an unresponsive, technically inept, annoyed fellow for a completed excel sheet for over a month. I had been sending reminders to the point where I had run out of ways to politely say “follow the directions please” and just started putting off the task.

Had some pamphlets to run off to someone in another building, so I turned the corner to check the cubicle names, and of course, of all eight hundred employees residing in these four buildings, I find his name across the hallway from my destination. Time to shame him in person once I drop this stuff off.

Pamphlets dropped off, I walk (lightly stomp) over to his cubicle.

“Hi, do you have some time?”

“No…who are you?”

“I’m Grace from the legal department. I sent you the email about finishing that form…”

“Ohhh!”

He asks me to wait for him as he opens up the accursed spreadsheet, and I’m already slightly peeved (if I wasn’t already before) at his slightly disgruntled attitude. As if it were my fault you didn’t follow my instructions.

As I help him, he suddenly asks if I’m new, and I casually mention that I’m a temporary replacement for the permanent executive assistant of the department. What followed:

“Are you going to stay on when she comes back?”

“I hope so, but I really don’t know if I’ll be able to.”

“Do you like it here?”

“Yeah, I really do.”

“What’s it going to take for you to stay? Who do I need to talk to?”

“Oh, ummm…I don’t, I don’t really know.”

“I can’t promise you anything, but I’m going to talk to some people and see what I can do to allow you to stay here. You are doing a great job!”

“Oh wow…thank you, thank you so much!”

Thank you. As I walk off, I’m just a little teary eyed, completely grateful, and in disbelief at what just happened. Someone I had just met in person offered to take the initiative to fight for me to stay in my position. What? What? How do these things happen?

Let’s not even mention the original expectations behind that meeting.

Jesus, Your love is so wonderfully sweet.

-G