Work Bullying Testimony

Dear Madam/Sir:

      I was going to read some of your stories on the bullying that goes on at work and found that you want people to submit their own stories.  Here's mine:
 
      I was hired last year by a fairly big law firm.  The bosses were really nice to me and after being interviewed on two seperate occassions I prayed that the Lord would give me this job.  It has excellent benefits and an excellent pay rate.  Well after the second interview the owner called me and asked me if I wanted the job.  I replied by saying yes and I felt like dancing.  I literally laid on the floor and cried to the Lord... how could he be so good to me.  You see I had very poor secretarial skills and it was total favoritism that I received that job.
 
      After I started the job, I made it pretty clear that I loved God and that I trusted him with my life.  Everyone, or at least who ever I could tell, knew that I was Christian.  I had only been working there a couple of months when I noticed how I was being treated by the two partners' secretaries.  They were terrible.  Mean, hostile, bossy, gossipping, etc.  Sometimes I used to wonder how they even had their jobs.  I watched them for a while thinking maybe that was just their attitudes and maybe they treated everyone that way.  I was wrong.  I was the only one that they treated that way.  There is another secretary there, she is really nice, young like me and tends to keep to herself alot.  After observing that they were treating me this way I kept quiet still thinking maybe it was me.  Well it was me, I displayed a doormat quality that they found they could easily intimidate.  I let it go on for quite a while.  Cried in the bathroom on several occassions almost to the point I was going to quit.  But I didn't quit, for some reason I stayed put. 
 
     Finally after some advice from a good Christian friend, I decided to discuss this with my boss.  His secretary has been with him for over 20 years and I knew that I was going to have to be the one to leave.  Well you know what God wasn't having it my way.  His very intention was for my spiritual growth and I was going to have to learn by this experience.  After I discussed it with my boss, I was red from crying, but I will tell you that I remained very calm.  I explained to him what had been going on, the hostility, the name calling, the abuse, the gossipping, I held nothing back.  He said Rhonda maybe it's you, and I told him you know I thought it was so that's why it has taken me so long to come to you.  I pretty much told him that there was no resolution to this problem, I understood she had been there a long time and that she was older and set in her ways and I was young and could pretty much find another job.

Again the Lord wasn't having it my way.  Harry asked me if I would mind if he could try one thing...talking to her.  I knew that was a tough call on his part, but for some reason he didn't want me to leave.  I said yes Harry if that is what you want, talk to her.  He left and imediately went to her office.  Shortly after that she stormed up front and began ranting and raving in the copier room, which is about five steps from my desk in the front of the office (I am the receptionist as well as Harry's other legal secretary).  She was swearing and slamming things around and even went so far to get the other secretary (the quiet one) involved.  She stayed pretty much quiet about it.
 
Well things got better, I even received a raise (God is so good to me).  Then the other secretary started in on me.  This time one of my bosses was able to listen to it, and she didn't know.  He explained that she was wrong and even went so far as to assist me on how to better deal with it next time.  He said he wanted to get me in a place where nothing bothered me.  That was the Lord speaking to me....through a sinner yet. 
 
After that incident, Harry's secretary and I once again hit it off in the old fashion way, this time I stuck up for myself, maybe it was a foolish move, but I was getting really impatient with the waiting on the Lord part.  I left, went into the bathroom and cried begging God to let me go.  I shook so hard on my knees in the bathroom I don't even remember how I was able to go back into the office and continue to handle the phones and the clients.  Talk about the Lord being my strength when I am weak.  Harry also saw that arguement also.  It was hard to miss his own secretary storming up to the front twice and raising her voice loud enough for him to hear behind closed doors. 
 
He didn't say anything this time, he simply just kept me working and acted like he didn't see it. 
 
I left that day and went home only to find that the 700 Club had been trying to contact me for prayer.  I had put in a request earlier on for another reason.  Well this woman got on the phone with me, and it didn't turn out really good because I ended up telling her I would call back.  When I called back the second time, another woman answered and immediately asked if I needed prayer.  I told her yes and she said tell me a little about it.  I only told her enough where she knew I was having some problems at work and let me tell you she said to me "Miss Rhonda, you can't leave that job, the Lord is keeping you there, he has a purpose for you there and you are going to have to experience some humility and then he is going to change things up really quick, just wait on him, he wants you to experience this humility for spiritual growth"  her words almost caused my heart to leap out of my chest.  I knew that the Lord was speaking directly to me through her.  After that we prayed this prayer, and you want to talk about prayers this woman's prayer could have peeled the paint off of the walls.  I cried so hard after I got off the phone.
 
     Well I stayed and I am still there.  It has gotten quiet and they have pretty much left me alone.  It's still hostile between Nancy and I, but at this point I don't want to rock the boat, and I still am waiting upon the Lord. He is the rock that keeps me getting up in the morning and going to work.
 
     If you could, please shorten my story, I know it's long.  I hope someone reads it and finds that there is hope.  It is hard being a Christian in the work place.  But don't give up hope and remember who is on our side.  Sometimes I don't always feel that way, but I just keep waiting.  Now is the time for me to remain still and let the Lord do what he does best.....God bless and thank you for allowing me to share this with you.