” I wonder what sort of a tale we’ve fallen into?”
-Sam “The Fellowship of the Ring”
Two years ago today, my husband got laid off.
It came as no surprise, really. The small college where he worked was struggling financially.
We entered into this phase with a confidence and a peace that God had plans for us.
About one month into it, the novelty began to fade.
About six months in, the ups and downs of the job hunt and the uncertainty of temporary jobs were beginning to take a toll. (Although I still feel a sense of gratitude for the temporary jobs that Wes worked. They provided a paycheck in uncertain times.)
About one year in, I was really struggling. Bitterness was beginning to set in. It had been an awful year full of pain and heartache beyond the job hunt. I have record of my hurt and anger in journals during that time. In fact, I just found this entry that I wrote a year ago:
“I believe it was a year ago TODAY that Wes was laid off. Two days ago, we found out that North Carolina was a NO.
Sigh…what a journey.
We started the journey with great confidence. It’s definitely starting to waver. What do you have in store, God? We just can’t put our finger on it.
Is it Philly?”
If you’ve been around here for long, you know the answer to that question. The answer was YES. It WAS Philly! (Ok, north of Philly if you want to be technical.) It took another five months before we actually made the move, but the wheels had begun to turn.
This is why I want to celebrate the two year anniversary of my husband’s lay-off today.
Not because it was fun. (A year and a half of uncertain income is a looong time…)
Not because it was easy. (I am just now getting ready to pay off a large, ugly bill from my husband’s hospital visit ONE WEEK before he finally was insured again.)
Not because I would like to go back and do it all over again. (But honestly, you never know in these times…)
I want to celebrate because it was the beginning of a journey. Were it not for his lay-off, we would not have been stretched and pushed to where we are today, financially, vocationally, spiritually… And in fact, were it not for his lay-off, I would not blogging here today.
I actually wrote the quote above from Sam in The Fellowship of the Ring in my journal about six months before Wes’s lay-off. Little did I know how my tale was about to change.
I sure would like the ability to see the end of our path and know that all will end well. I’d love to picture years of financial stability with no more battles with unemployment and paying for groceries with WIC checks. (In fact, I’d love to know that we will have the resources we need in order to help those who are paying for their groceries with WIC checks.) And sure–I’ll take the white picket fence too.
But life is a journey, isn’t it? Who knows what a day may bring forth.
Because of the journey that began two years ago today, I have confidence that God will continue to show us how to take the next step.
And that’s why I’m celebrating today.
My husband was laid off in December and God provided for us sooner than he provided for you, but I felt your angst. God really does have a plan for our lives, we can’t always see the blessing of where we are in the moment, but it’s our faith that keeps us going. God Bless You and thank you for sharing.
So encouraging Kaley, thanks for sharing. I admire you and I’m glad you are here in PA! Thanks for your cont’ comitment to helping others save. It has been such a HUGE blessing to me and my husband (he LOVES hearing of my deals-I’m almost at $100 and it’s only been 3 weeks!)
We’ve been going through this for 5 years now! We made a move away from our childhood home, started a business and were pregnant with our first child. She has Down Syndrome, was born at 26 weeks, and now has Autism and is still medically fragile. The journey has been painful at times, on many levels, and I’m not going to say I would not change it for anything (link to my blog posts about my baby’s journey and you’ll know why, I just posted about this yesterday), but I do know that God has always been present and hard won as it has been, the growth has been incredible.
Thanks for sharing!
Amazing to look back and see His hands wrapped around us the whole time. Makes the future a lot less scary.
Beautiful.
we really need to look down..and know that there is God…you guys are great inspiration..hope all people on earth think like this…thank you for sharing it!
Lovely story! I do wish those who want to eliminate our “safety nets” such as unemployment, WIC, and, now, health insurance reform would read stories and realize that it could be — perhaps even will be — any and everyone of us.
We experienced some of the same struggles when my husband lost his job. God brought us closer to him and closer to each other. I Hated the financial struggle(we are still getting back on our feet), but I wouldn’t give up the lessons I learned.
Great entry! I apperciate your honesty. Who wants to have to struggle? No one. We have 4 kids with one more due in June, needless to say sometimes its hard to make ends meet. Even though its hard to go through the tough times, it is in those times that we are thankful for when it gets a little easier (it does get easier, right? lol)
Happy Anniversary.
Such a great positive story on life’s up and downs! Thanks for sharing:)
That was really nice! What a story. Makes you think. …And it brought tears to my eyes.
It sounds like your trials and tribulations have made you stronger not only spiritually but personally. It just goes to show that life isn’t always easy but that’s the kind of stuff that makes us who we are.
I’m with you in the sense that I would love to give to those that need it more than we do even if we ourselves don’t always have just enough to do so. Some day I hope!
We are truely blessed in many ways and having the ability to see that will help guide you the rest of the way.
Really inspirational…..
Thanks for your post today. I have been unemployed for 2 years this coming November. I am definitely desperately struggling. I have food stamps, some financial help from my church, and grateful for financial help from my family and friends. But the journey is hard, sad, heartbreaking, but it is definitely teaching me a lesson and I look forward to getting a job, I hope. I also would love to help others that have been going through this. I want to pay back my family who have been there for me. I do not wish this on anyone.
Thanks for your encouraging post. God Bless you.
Thanks for sharing that. I really needed the encouragement to keep trusting God even if life doesn’t make sense to me and my ways. To God it does.
I really enjoyed the way you are still able to trust God and say that He will continue to lead you, that He is good even if not everything in life has been easy. That is a true faith. Bless you!