Hi, Friends!! What’s good today?

As I was praying and pondering about what to write this week, I was thinking about my journey the last many years and the things I’ve experienced.

I’m sure at times many of you, just like me, have thought “what else can go wrong?” or “will anything ever be easy?”. And it seems during those times people will try to encourage you and say things like, “It’s temporary,” “This too shall pass” (or something along those lines) or if you are a bible believer you are asked, “what about Job?”.

These things are really hard to hear when you’re in the middle of a tough time, and I feel it’s rather dismissive to say even if well-intentioned by those saying it.

If we’re honest, the truth is, most often the bad times don’t last. But we sure don’t think or feel that way when we’re overwhelmed, and we find ourselves doing everything we can to get it to pass quickly so we can be on to the good things in life. Which again if you are honest, also do not last.

Although I am not there yet, I dream of owning my own business one day. But until then, I believe God has allowed me to go through trials and hardships, along with blessings, to get me to where I am right now. With each tribulation, each frustrating job, every tear shed, if I paid attention or looked back, there was likely something I did or could learn from it. I don’t know too many (if any) lessons that I’ve learned when the going was easy. Sure, I enjoyed the good times, but those weren’t the times that I grew.

There have been so many times I’ve doubted myself when things didn’t seem to be working out. I felt I was doing something wrong, or worse, that there was something wrong with me. All the while, not realizing I was being refined for something more.

You see, I have been offered a wonderful position with a great company doing something I’ve been hoping for, for a very long time. And considering my dream, this new career path that I am on will certainly better prepare me. But I had to go through the times that I have and work in positions and for people that made my life so hard at times that I wasn’t sure how I’d make it through the next day. All to put me in alignment for my new assignment.

What I’d like to do is to encourage you to “patiently wait” (yeah I don’t like that term either) while working through the trials and hardships and look for the joy (not to be confused with happiness) in those times knowing they can be forming you for something you don’t yet see.

I can’t imagine how my life would be if I would have given up along the way. (Don’t think I didn’t consider it more than once)

I’d be very grateful if you would remember me in your thoughts and prayers so that I can be an effective leader as I take on this new position in life and that I can help others to grow and reach their full potential.

I’ll be on (real) vacation next week so who knows what I’ll come up with to share!!! Until then, stay kind and gracious, friends.