So I was unemployed once again. We set aside money in savings just in case this happened so we were able to scrape by on one income for the summer. The break was wonderful! Oh how I needed this time to just be. No expectations for myself or that others had put on me. It was exactly what I needed. I thank the Lord for a season of unemployment--never thought that is something I would be thankful for!
During the summer I did end up having a job offer (we'll call this job A) at the school. I was given an interview and a verbal job offer. I verbally accepted the position. Now I could truly rest without feeling stressed about the fall.
My husband and I were visiting a local church and they mentioned a need for volunteers at their art camp. I was free and really hadn't done anything the whole summer so I thought...yeah, one week of this before I start my job in a few weeks would be great for getting me back into the swing of work life. So I signed up.
I was starting to get to know a few of the other volunteers and teaching 3 kiddos beginner piano.
One gal in particular and I started to get to know each other that Thursday night. At one point in our conversation she asked me what I did job wise because my personality seemed like I would be a great fit for a job she was hiring for. I mentioned the above paragraph about having a job (Job A) lined up in the fall. She said if I know anyone looking for work and they may be a good fit to let her know. I asked her to explain the job she was hiring for and she shared a bit more about it. We exchanged phone numbers and I let her know I'd reach out.
I came home and grabbed the mail to go through it. There was the official letter offering me the job (A) at the school. They requested an official acceptance (or rejection) of the job by a certain date. The date just happened to be the next day. So...I had not officially accepted the position. But I gave them my word. Hmmm.
I chatted with my husband about my new friend and the job opening. We looked up the company and did some initial research. In the morning I mentioned I wanted to look into this job a little further. I was really impressed with this woman and our conversation. Given full support from my hubby...I reached out to see if I could learn more about this position (job B).
Sure enough my hiring buddy was able to meet me that afternoon for coffee. She invited me to come up with as many questions as possible and to look up more information about her program. I did my research and started coming up with questions. I stopped for a minute and wrote at the top of my list: "It's Just Coffee." This saying came from a radio interview I heard once during my single days. It was in reference to giving women advice when they were going on dates. They shouldn't start dreaming up the wedding day after the first date. It is just coffee. So I took that thought for myself and applied it to this situation. Just as a reminder to me to keep me looking at it as a learning opportunity. I did grab my resume- just in case.
After 1.5 hours of Just coffee...I found myself submitting my resume for the job and scheduling an initial interview! I then got in my car, said a quick prayer, called my husband to update him, and then called the principal of the school who offered me the job. I was given a week extension to accept or reject the school job (A).A week went by and I was waiting for one more interview to be scheduled before a job offer (this is job B) would be possible. I received a follow-up call from the principal inquiring if I had accepted or rejected the job (A). Pausing, I looked down in front of me at the letter of rejection for the school job. I then glanced over to my notebook and saw the "it's just coffee." for the other job. "Not anymore" I chuckled nervously to myself. I informed the principal I indeed was rejecting the job offer and thanked her for her patience as well as her gracious attitude.
What do you do in such a situation!? You just said no to a perfectly good job when you didn't have another one! Yet I had a peace about it. I saw God leading me in this direction. Even if I wasn't offered this other position, my husband and I agreed we could trust God. A memory of one of the lessons taught during the art camp came to mind. The speaker had emphasized the part of the story of Daniel's friends in the Bible-Daniel chapter 3 where they said even if God doesn't save us...we will not bow down. This was the part of the story where they were being challenged by the king to bow down or they would be thrown in the fiery furnace.
Daniel 3:16-18 (ESV) "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we have not need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it know to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up."
As you may know they are thrown into the fire. They are protected by God and don't even smell like the furnace when they come out! The king then gives them higher positions and no one can punish them for serving their God.
Now I'm not equating myself to that intense of a situation. Yet if you look at it in a financial sense...that was kind of was what we where doing. We were ready to trust God by saying no to a job and not having another one lined up. (We did have several ideas of income in the event of not being offered the other job...but stay with me here- for suspense's sake!)
The weekend went by and I just kept myself busy while I waiting for a call. Monday came and I had an interview set for Tuesday. I interviewed and felt hopeful. Sure enough I received an email with a job offer! And there was much rejoicing!
I started my new job (job B) August 13th. Each day has been different. Lots of training and traveling! I was in a meeting on Thursday (what is it about Thursdays!?) and as I sat in this collaborative meeting a sense of confidence came over me. It was like the Holy Spirit was indicating to me--So this is why I gave you this personality. This is why you have stayed in this community. This is why you enjoy those excel spreadsheet making, training manual reading, and organizing hobbies.
God continues to subtly but deeply give me thoughts of confirmation. Just today my supervisor was giving me positive feedback and I started to tear up. She paused and inquired if these were happy tears. I said yes. She was sharing an experience of her observing me and the kindness and acceptance I had of all of those around me. It was a confirmation for her that she made the right choice. God was showing me--there Amy. This is your answer when in your season of depression you asked my WHY. This is why. I needed to bring you into that life style. I needed you to experience loss of many kinds. You would not have come to this job with the humility, teachable spirit, or kindness that is necessary if you did not go through that wilderness. Wow.
As I sit here typing I have paused so many times to thank Jesus. It's just me who got a job... but He chose Me for this opportunity. Situations that tug on my heart--I now get paid to help others.
So what is this job B you ask? It is a little tricky to explain so I'll just sum up. (Princess Bride reference for any of you movie quoters.) The official title is Group Facilitator and Community Coordinator Intake. I get to organize parenting classes for new moms and their families. I'll work with home visitors of the parents (or parents to be). Our organization works with 21 and under. If others come to us and they don't qualify for our program...the other part of my job comes in to play and I coordinate with the other local programs and get them connected/referred to those organizations. It is confusing, I know. So just think of it as parenting classes and community outreach.
I'm on a great team and have heard from even former employees how great this team is that I'm working with.
Like anything in life it will never be perfect and their will be stresses and struggles...but to have a job is such a blessing. Even more, the confirmations of such a good fit is quite a gift. James 1:17 (ESV) Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
By the way I should mention...this coffee we have been talking about, at least in my personal experience...It's never Just coffee.
