So, I just got off the phone with someone who, quite honestly, is beginning to be more trouble to me than she's worth.

Our church pays three people to work in the nursery on Wednesday nights - from outside our church - because our SP wants all of our adults to be involved in one of the Wednesday night classes.  So...we hire out, using people whose home churches do not have midweek programs, or whose midweek programs meet on another night of the week.

Two of the three are fine.  But the third...my goodness!!

We hired her and one other to run the nursery for preschool and under during our Missions Banquet.  We had an influx of kids that night - much more than expected.  She complained about that.  After the program was over, she reamed me out because it went late (by about 20-30 minutes).  I said, "I apologize - I've never done this before, and I was told that it would be over by 8:30."

She said, "Well, it ALWAYS goes longer, and they should have known that!"

Okay...if she's done this before, and if it always goes longer, then why was she acting so surprised?

But, my SP was gracious, and paid the two ladies for a whole extra hour.  He apologized to me that she was so rude to me (she's not a member of our church - not much else he could have done!), and we chalked it up as stress, or her having a bad day, and just let it go. 

Now...the latest with her: Our deacon board voted to put air fresheners in our nurseries because...they're nurseries!  They smell!  This lady left halfway through church a couple weeks ago because she's allergic to the smell - it makes her swell up and have a hard time breathing.

I can totally buy that.  I have a similar reaction to cigarette smoke.  But her attitude about it is starting to grate on my nerves.  I have been working hard at trying to find a solution, because I am trying to be caring and compassionate and give her a positive experience with our church and our children's ministry (although, truth be told, I really don't care - we usually only have 3-4 toddlers in there on Wednesday nights - all leaders' kids, lol, and the other two are more than enough!).

Nothing I propose doing, short of ripping the air fresheners from the wall, which is not an option - SP wants them there, is going to make this woman happy.  I told her that I would turn them off immediately after Sunday morning services and not turn them back on again until Thursday morning, and asked if she'd be willing to try that.  I even said I'd pay her for Wednesday regardless of whether she could stay or not.

Mind you, this is not an act of desperation!  I do not need this woman to work for me.  But she's hemming and hawing, and saying, "Well, I'll have to think about it..."

Very pleasantly and graciously, I asked her to give me a call before Wednesday night to let me know.  If she's unwilling to even try to work with us (the deacon who put them in even offered to find smaller ones, or different scents, and to go out of HIS way to solve the problem!), then I will very happily release her.  On the outside, I will say, "We appreciate all you've done for us, and we are thankful that we have been able to work with you."

Inwardly, I'll be saying, "Don't let the door hit you on the way out."

Thanks for letting me rant.  Even though I am rolling my eyes, I am also smiling big, because once again, I'm dealing with a "normal" ministry problem.  God is amazing!!!