(Staff Appreciation Series)

If I were to give you the top qualities of an administrative assistant at a church, Tricia would have most, if not all, of those. Since Tricia supports me, I can speak personally to the fact that she is a joy to work with and makes my job so much easier.

Here are five of the many things I appreciate about Tricia.

1. Tricia is sweet-spirited. She’s kind. She’s enjoyable to be around. Even on days when she may not “feel pleasant,” you would never know. She won’t say something negative about anyone or anything. Growing up, one of her siblings labeled her “Miss Mary Sunshine.” I’m not sure that was intended to be a term of endearment (from a sibling!), but it really is true of Tricia. Being a pastor can be quite challenging at times, so having someone with a pleasant disposition is so appreciated! 

2. Tricia is conscientious. I would trust Tricia with anything. She’s that kind of person. She has integrity, is honest, and always strives to do the right thing. 

3. Tricia is dependable. When you give Tricia a task, consider it done. And on time. I love the fact that I can mention something to Tricia one time, and never concern myself with it again. 

4. Tricia has a “whatever it takes” attitude. She is willing to do not only what you ask, but she will go the extra mile. She strives to not only meet expectations, but exceed them. I like to describe it as a “can do” attitude. Her approach to supporting me is, “What can I do to help you?”

5. Tricia is fun! If you don’t know Tricia well, you might not see this in  her. But she has a great sense of humor, and we love to joke around. I love to hear her laugh. I can “kid around” with her, and she leans right into it.

I have told Tricia on several occasions that she reminds me of my older sister. My older sister was “the perfect child.” She was easy to parent. I was not…so…much. I never appreciated those characteristics in my older sister, because she always made me look bad (although I have to take responsibility for some of that). But, now that I have an administrative assistant who has those characteristics, I think I finally appreciate them!

Tricia works behind the scenes and does not like to have attention drawn to her (like this blog does). But The Ridge is what it is because of people like her. 

If you get a chance, let Tricia know how much you appreciate her, too. No one deserves it more than she does.

Whatever it takes,

Jerry