Three days later on my personal cell phone I cringed in anger listening to The R's message, her voice coming through what I imagined were red painted lips with teeth locked, tongue wagging behind.
"I received your confirmation message but you know I have to personally talk to you and since you didn't call me back I am cancelling Tessa's appointment."
WHAT? I called. I did my duty. How DARE she! She never, ever called to let me know I had to talk to her personally. What was that all about?
I checked back on my calanders to make sure I had checked off my duty to call The R the day she requested. Yes. Checked. I looked at my home phone. No red blinking light indicating I had a message. None...notta one. How dare she accuse me of not getting back to her!!
I pride myself in being detailed. I have
2 Outlook Calenders,
1 Google Calender, and
1 Paper Daytimer
I have files upon file upon files...
I'm sure you get the picture...
So I took action. I complained to my daughters.
"Can you believe this happened to me....how dare they..."
I called up my regular dentist.
"I'd like to get a referral to another Oral Surgeon. That other office has administration problems!"
About a week later I noticed a blinking red light on my home phone. I dialed into my voice mail. "You have one new message and five saved messages." Five saved messages? I gripped the phone, my head hanging lower and lower as I heard saved message after message after message after message from The R.
"Hello Lynn. Thank you for Tessa's confirmation. Please call me back as I need to speak to you personally...."
"Hello Lynn. I'm calling about Tessa again. We need to talk before her next appointment."
"Hello Lynn. I've been trying to get a hold of you. Please call me as soon as possible or I will have to cancel..."
"Hello Lynn. I've tried several times to get a hold you..."
Ughh...the last message was for my son Cole.
Cole.
Up the stairs I ran, threw open his bedroom door.
"Cole, have you been taking the messages off my phone?"
"Yeah. But I saved them."
Oh God, help me.
"Cole, you got to tell me!"
But I can't blame him. I missed the messages because I came to the defensive conclusion The R was in the wrong. I ranted, I complained, I concluded and took action without all the details.
James 1:19
My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,
Needless to say I called The R, explained the situation and gave her my apologies for missed messages and misconceptions. Her teeth, I'm sure, were still clenched in frustration when I hung up. I can't always make my transgressions right of speaking too soon however, with God's help, hopefully I can learn to be slower to react. Thankfully He has given me another day to learn His ways.
Have a story like this one? Please share if you do! Or any tips on how you don't miss details? I need the help!
8 comments:
I had an eye specialist tell me that I didn't need to see him any more as long as I went to my regular ophthalmologist. His staff called me later and reamed me out for not making another appointment. They didn't believe me when I told them what he said, and apparently he hadn't written it down on the chart. Yes, there was steam coming out of my ears...:)
Love your story.
I do have one. I had misunderstood someone and quickly judged them.
I found out later that she had a blood infection (which was the cause of the misunderstanding of how she was acting). I was in the wrong.
Ugh! I was not only embarrassed, but very apologetic. I was lucky to have the opportunity to find out and make it right. I would have been horrified if I hadn't had the opportunity.
Sorry this is so long. But I think it happens to each of us. I always have to take a step back and watch myself, because I don't want to be the kind of person who judges others. It was a good lesson!
Oh! I feel for you!!
When I came back from vacation in August I got a message that I owed my endocrinologist a co-pay for an appointment I had missed. I was livid because I didn't have any record of making an appointment, and they ALWAYS call before to confirm.
Turns out when I was gone, they called, and the guy watching the house did the same thing your son did. The messages were saved, but no blinking light to tell me I had any.
Sigh.
Ouch!
My husband's dentist always call the day before and ask him to phone back to confirm. He never does, and they never cancel his appointment.
My husband's done that message thing to me several times. Drives me nuts. At least TELL us the phone rang so we can check who called.
Stopping by to say "hi" :)
As always you explain things so well!!!!!
What an ordeal!!!! I'm glad when my DD had to have her removed, we only waited three weeks....
I love how you were able to bring all together through James....I didn't have problems with dental appointments, but a similar situation with a co-worker who is very quick to act and say things without hearing the full scope.....
(((hugs)))
Katia
Good one :D
I can relate! Sometimes, unfortunately, I blame my kids for moving important items and blast them for it. Later, I realize, I was the one who did it. Nothing like eating crow and apologizing to your kids. Thank God, my kids are gracious!
Thanks for stopping by the blog today! Keep writing! :)
My family's been scolded so many times for not writing down messages that now no one dares to listen to messages but me. Or maybe it's just because anyone calling the kids would use their cell phone and my husband knows probably any message on the machine would be for me. :)
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