We have crossed the Sea of Saturdays and landed on dry ground. We were sailing for six months, almost to the day. On July 12, 2010, my husband was notified that he was laid off. On January 13, 2011, my husband received a job offer. We've been walking on the shore for six weeks. We have land legs again.
Sweet Number Three sent this with her daddy on the first day of work at his new job.
We're learning to walk in this country of New Jobs. It is more familiar than sailing on the Ship of Unemployment. For instance, taking the trash out on Tuesday nights has fallen back into place with no effort. The second evening that Daddy comes home in the week equals taking the dumpster to the curb. This is familiar.
Whew! There is much relief in going to work five days a week. But relief is not the same as peace. In the first weeks, I found myself overwhelmed at managing the new schedule and what is to come. I was relying on the relief of having a new job and not on the peace of God. How quickly lessons learned of trusting Him for the unseen flitter away.
Adjustments are still necessary. Husband leaves an hour and a half earlier than the last 17 years. On the happy side, he is home earlier. I have wanted that for a long time.
But....I am well entrenched to a late night schedule. Maybe one day we'll be all done with school, the table set, and dinner ready when Daddy comes home. Maybe. Maybe not. Either way, I'm aiming for that.
In the meantime, I'm working on a smile to greet him, no matter how behind I'm feeling and no matter how many things on the to-do list won't get done today. In the midst of the dinner crunch, I want to smile. A smile. That's all. Baby steps, you know.
I wouldn't trade sailing on the sea of Saturdays in the ship of Unemployment.
I didn't ask for it. I don't know that I would have asked for it or will ask for it again.
However, I am thankful. I am thankful for the sweetness of the Lord during the last six months. I am thankful for free babysitting, boxes of groceries, job leads, new contacts, encouraging cards and a myriad of other ways that we felt supported and loved these last six months.
I'm still musing about lessons learned.
In the meantime, we're all thankful for Daddy's new job.
Have you ever been thankful for difficulty in your life? Do you have anything that you are rejoicing over today?
Would you like to read some more encouraging words? Join Jen @ Finding Heaven for:
HI! I'm so glad to see you at Soli Deo Gloria! I hope you will come back next week...every week.
ReplyDeleteYour words really resonated with me. How often have I tried to find refuge in something from this world instead of God? Oh, yes, I have been there.
As for your question, I am thankful for my hearing loss. Even though there are times that I wish I didn't have it, I am thankful for all the ways He uses it.
Jen, thanks for stopping by. I like your Soli Deo Gloria. It is neat to share thoughts with other like-minded women. I hope to keep coming back each Tuesday.
ReplyDeleteI read about your hearing loss on your blog. A friend's son has just experienced total hearing loss through an illness. He will be two soon. So it was encouraging to read how the Lord has used it in your life. And how thankful you are for it. That has encouraged me as I watch my friend and her family walk through this new chapter in their lives.
Thanks for sharing a difficulty that you are thankful for.
Rejoicing with you. I like the idea of "working on a smile." Weary bodies sometimes hide them from veiw and the effort is more tiring. Joy somehow ballances it all out.
ReplyDeleteIt's an awfully nice way to be greeted...
ReplyDeleteI love your way of doing sea of Saturdays and stuff like that LOVE #3
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