This time last week, I was with several of my friends and about 50 other women at a Women’s Retreat for the women of our church. We drove up to Black Mountain on a dreary, rainy and cold Friday morning and came home on Sunday afternoon. We stayed at Ridgecrest Conference Center. I roomed with my very best friend. It was a good and much needed rest and a wonderful time spent in reflection.
This time last year, I was struggling with being recently divorced. I was also working myself into a lather about how my ex had not complied with his part of the mediation agreement. I was barely getting by on my 30 hour a week job that was soon to be turned into 20 hours. I had to find a place to move to since the rent on my then apartment was going up more than I could afford. I was miserable….
It is amazing how time can change so quickly. On minute, you think you are going to fall into the chasm never to be seen again. The next, you are amazed at how much you have been blessed. I am so very thankful for all of the blessing that have come my way in the past year! (Guess this post is appropriate since ThanksGiving is just around the corner.)
Blessed I am, though some times I don’t see it. I ask God to show me and He does. He often reminds me of where I was and where I am now. Life is not all rosy…(I still have that pesky ex trying to “mess” with me over the house. Believe me that is a long story not to be gone into right now.) I wake each day with a song in my head. Most of the time, they are songs of praise.
I have a wonderful new job…well 6 months new. I absolutely love going to work. I am thankful everyday for the chance to make a difference in some small way. I enjoy the people with whom I work. My boss is kind and willing to teach rather than preach. He does not raise his voice but gets his point across. I am so eager to please because of the encouragement I receive.
My job…well, some people would say that it’s not much. A lot of people would not want to do what I do. But, I have been in the corporate world and would rather work where I am now than to go back and make mega bucks doing something I hated. You see, money is not, nor has it been everything to me. I need only enough to tithe, pay my bills and have a little left over for saving. (The saving part is still a little difficult since I am still busy paying off huge debt…But I am getting there.)
Back to my job….I get to be around animals all day long. It is great! (Until we have to send one to heaven. But even that can be a blessing.) I get to love on puppies and kitties. I get to pet and scratch ear on dogs and cats. I get to meet a lot of people. And, most of all, I get to help. What little I do makes a difference. I clean cages. I scoop poop. I feed animals on the weekend when they board. I help collect blood and urine. (Literally I walk behind a dog with a ladle waiting for it to pee. Looks funny to the owne and to the dog.) What I do makes a difference!!!
I am sure that most people leave there and don’t remember me. I am sure most of the animals leave there and do remember me. I don’t need to be famous or be singled out for an important award. I will never win the Nobel Prize…but I make a difference. I am not just a cog in the corporate engine.
All of this came about through God’s blessings. I know from whence my help comes….It comes from the Lord. And, I am so very, very thankful to Him and to all my friends who have stood beside me around me and behind me.
Sure there are bumps in the road. Insecurities always spring up. What if’s and only if’s can cloud any day. But, I don’t stay in the pity puddle long before I realize that I should sing songs of praise rather than wallow in my sadness.
It is another gorgeous Fall day today. I hope I had the chance to lighten someone’s load a little. It only takes a second to smile or say a word of kindness to someone. Try it….
