I’ve recently been reminded of my age. My oldest child turned 33 years old last week and my middle child turned 30! How is this possible? I know how hold I am but I guess what I was reminded of is how long I’ve been doing what I’ve been doing.

You know, you hear of people retiring from teaching and then start all over again with another organization and soon the person has been teaching for 70 years. Or the couple who has made the Guinness World Record of being married the longest at over 85 years.

As a high school student, we “majored” in certain areas. I majored in music, home economics and business. Throughout my business courses, I picked up on the skills pretty quickly (except for the accounting classes…I always seemed to struggle in those). I was the fastest in my class at taking shorthand and then transcribing and typing what was dictated. I enjoyed being a secretary!

My first job came when I was 16 years old. I worked 14 hours a week at the church where my Dad ministered. I had my own office. I loved using the printing press (that would later be replaced by a copying machine). The hum of my IBM Selectric type writer was beautiful. My, how things have changed.

Through the years I have found myself as a secretary in many areas of businesses and fields. I’ve been a secretary for Clairol (the hair coloring people), an auto workers union, a group of attorneys, for hospice, and several churches along the way.

I’ve managed to do a few other jobs along the way, but for the most part, I’ve been a secretary for 39 years. And for the most part, I’ve loved every minute of it.

I’ve worked through the years at keeping my skills up with newest and greatest equipment. As mentioned earlier, that old printing press would soon be replaced by a copying machine. That Selectric typewriter was replaced by a word processor and ultimately a computer…the computer has even changed through the years from large, bulky pieces of equipment to slender laptops!

Shorthand has been replaced by typing meeting minutes or notes on a laptop. Most phone calls go to a personal cell phone, not the business line. Files and folders are now located on a computer not in a drawer. Even styles of writing and editing have changed. And there are probably a few other things that have changed through the years that I’ve had to keep learning.

My point is that even though I have had the skills for all these years, I’ve never been able to just say, “I’m done.” I’ve had to keep working toward the next element of technology to be a viable worker in my field.

It’s no different with our spiritual lives. We’ve accepted Jesus. We know to expect His return someday, but what are we to do in the meantime? We are to prepare ourselves for that coming. We are to keep learning. We are to work in field to bring others along. There is much work to be done.

So let’s look at a few verses that teach us what we can do to prepare ourselves for Jesus’ return.

“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 – NIV)

“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15 – NIV)

“In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble purposes. If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Maser and prepared to do any good work. Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” (2 Timothy 2:20-22 – NIV)

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” (James 1:22 – NIV)

“But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope.” (1 Peter 3:15 – NIV)

These are just a few things we find in Scripture that we can be working on while we wait for the Master to return. Let’s be prepared for that day. Let’s just do it.

I’m not a secretary any longer. I’m an assistant…even the name has changed. But to be honest, I like this change. I want to more than just a gal who types out memos. I want to make a difference in the work place.

I want that same thing to be true of my spiritual live. I will always want more. I will always want to grow a little bit more. I will always want to be better at what I’m doing. I’m getting ready and will be prepared when Jesus returns. Will you?

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Donna