The Faithful Servant

The Faithful Servant

CHILDREN'S STORIES

 

Joshua was an excellent construction worker. He had been working for his boss for many years. He did his work very carefully and was a very good workman. Joshua never took short cuts and his boss loved him for his honesty.

 

One day the stone supplier came and brought more stones than he had ordered for the building. After the supplier had left, Joshua sent one of the workers to tell the supplier that he had brought more stones than was ordered. The grateful supplier came and collected the extra stones the next day.

 

Joshua never lacked work. His work was so good that anyone and everyone who saw the houses he built wanted a home just like it. His boss was very happy because Joshua helped him to sell a lot of houses, and make a lot of money.

 

Joshua's boss was also his friend and always paid him his salary on time. He earned enough money and never complained to his boss about his salary. Every year Joshua's boss raised his salary by 1000 shillings. He said he could afford to do so because Joshua was a very profitable worker.

 

One day the boss fell ill and all the workers were confused about what to do. The boss was a good man, but nobody else seemed to know how to run the company. Joshua went to visit him in hospital and told him not to worry. He told Mrs. Boss to take care of Mr. Boss and that he would take care of the business while Mr. Boss was in hospital.

 

Joshua had no idea how he was going to run the company. He only knew how to build houses. He went home to his wife that day and told her all about the company problems. She listened and said the same thing to him that he already knew. She said, "Joshua, you are a good, honest and faithful man, but Joshua you don't know how to run a company". "I know, but I made a promise" said Joshua.

 

Mrs. Joshua went to the kitchen and made supper. She and her husband were old people. Their children were grown up and had families of their own. When she came back, Joshua was still sitting on the chair staring at the wall. She called him to supper and said, "lets pray". Then she paused and said a little louder, "lets give thanks". She kept quiet for a little bit more then said, "Let's ask GOD to help us". They prayed for their children, gave thanks for the food and asked God to help them run the business.

 

In the morning, Joshua went to the office. He still had no idea what he was going to do. Everyone was waiting for him. One by one, they came into the boss's office and Joshua sent them out. Each one came out in a hurry and was soon very busy at work. Soon the whole office was as busy as usual. Everyone marveled at what a wonderful manager Joshua was. At the end of the day, everyone congratulated him on how well he had done the job. He went home that day happy and tired.

 

At home, his wife waited anxiously for him to come home. She was worried that he might fail and that he would loose his job. She worried that they would have to move away. She was so anxious she had supper ready before tea time. Just before tea, one of the office workers stopped by and told her what a wonderful boss Joshua was. This made her feel better, but she wondered how Joshua did it.

 

When Joshua came home, he sat down very quietly in a chair. He was very exhausted. She gave him a cup of tea and asked – "how was your day?". "Oh fine" he said, "but tiring". "What did you do?" she asked. "Nothing really". "But everyone said you're a good manager", she said. "Thanks", said Joshua. "So how did you do it?" asked his wife. "Well all I did today was speak two sentences to everyone". "Two sentences is what made you so tired?". "Yes" he said.

 

"I called each person into the office and asked them what do you do here? I then listened very carefully to what they did. When I was satisfied they understood what they should be doing I said my next sentence; Go and do it. At the end of the day, everyone seemed to be very busy. That is how I ran the company".  

 

The boss stayed in hospital for two weeks. When he came back, he thanked Joshua very much for his good work, gave him a big reward and asked him to continue working in the office. But Joshua said No Sir, I am going to build houses, building two sentences a day is very hard work! And from now on I will only make promises I can keep.

 

Allan 2007