The Money I Never Got. The Reward I Will Surely Receive

NOTE: **If you are viewing this blog with a Google server/subscription, you may note numerous underlined words in blue. I have no control over this "malady." If you click on the underlined words, you will be redirected to an advertisement sponsored by Google. I would suggest you avoid doing so. 
***********

As a pastoral counselor of two and a half decades, I have purposely kept my fees at an artificially low level. And rather than come across as mercenary, (since I am not) and “get real specific,” suffice it to say that historically my hour fee structure is approximately 1/3 of “the going rate” for my geographical area.

Yet in spite of it, a significant percentage of my clients have requested a scholarship for services, or have left counseling without “catching up on their tab;” some leaving with triple digit balances. It occurred again recently. I met with a couple, and after their two individual intake sessions, they decided not to continue. Of course, when their session work concluded that day, I was informed he or she would mail me the remuneration. This was a month ago. (I’m glad I didn’t count on their remittance for my rent).

I have rarely, if at all written about this topic, but this kind of irresponsible behavior ticks me. (I could use stronger language here, but I “don’t talk like that.”) I suppose it is “par for the course” when you’re dealing with troubled, and sometimes dysfunctional people. But it is as good for the client to remunerate, as it is for the counselor to receive. We should all make and keep good habits; including paying our outstanding bills. And I am fully aware that some of these same folks stop at a hamburger joint on a daily basis, and smoke a couple packs of cigarettes a day; (and of course, such poor and chronic habits cost “big bucks.”)

(Don’t get me started. Some of my clients have left a stench which literally permeated my clothing, and the very walls of my office, and I was careful to tell my next client that “I don’t smoke (and) the luxurious odor that now permeates my office was toted in here by the previous client.”)

None the less, for all of the times the bill was not paid, I’m grateful I have been given the opportunity to touch lives in an inestimable and irrevocable way. And I have no doubt that God has a reward stored up for me in heaven; “where moths cannot corrupt, and where thieves cannot break in and steal.”

By William McDonald, PhD. Excerpt from "(Mc)Donald's Daily Diary" Vol. 22. Copyright pending

If you wish to copy, share or save this blog, please include the credit line, above 
*************
**If you would like to see the titles and access hundreds of my blogs from 2015, do the following:

Click on 2015 in the index to the right of this blog. When my December 31st blog "The Shot Must Choose You" appears, click on the title. All my blog titles for 2015 will appear in the index.