There’s a hair salon in the neighborhood where we live, owned by a lovely lady. Let’s call her Mabel (not her real name). 

I’ve observed something about the way she shows up for work. 

Whether you’re the first client of the day or the last before they close, it’s almost impossible to meet Mabel looking stressed or worn out. Morning or evening, her hair is in place, her light make-up intact, her shoes still on her feet, and she stands with the same grace and poise. 

While she’s working on your hair, she keeps you engaged with inspiring stories of her life and the lessons she’s learnt on her journey. Mabel’s salon is not a place for negative talk or gossip.

She inspires, she encourages, she prays, and she motivates, while she patiently gives instructions to her workers, extending grace to them as they carry out their duties confidently. 

And the atmosphere in that salon? Peaceful. Serene. Calm. Therapeutic. 

I don’t schedule my appointments with Mabel casually. I’m intentional about when I go in for a wash, trim or dye. Mabel’s salon is one of the places I like to visit when life is “life-ing”, and I need to breathe and exhale. 

I’m sharing this with everyone, particularly Christians;  with a special focus on those of us who “serve in church”. 

We wait until it’s Sunday to show up fully and “minister” to others, then Monday comes, and we switch. 

We think our 9-to-5 job is just what it is – a job, but when we understand that it is beyond doing work and getting a paycheck, we learn to show up differently. We become intentional about how we step into the office, and how we operate in our work space daily. 

Whoever told us that church is the only place where we can serve God didn’t teach us the balanced truth. We serve everywhere, whether in church, as hired employees or business owners. 

So the next time you show up at your workplace, step in and act like someone who has come to minister to others. 

Make a choice to be intentional. 

Be like Mabel.