Ephesians 1:3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.
Are you a glass half-full or a glass half-empty kind of person? When trials come your way, do you look for the blessing or get lost in feelings of frustration and hopelessness? I often lose my way in worry when faced with trouble, and I am so blessed to be married to a true optimist – always able to help me see God’s positive spin on a difficult situation.
Romans 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
All things.
Not certain things. Not easy things. All things.
Today was a hard day for our school staff. Several teachers were called up to the office individually to be told that they were receiving “reduction in force” notices – pink slips. The mood was somber. Some were so emotional that they couldn’t return to their classrooms. It was difficult to see anything positive in such devastating news.
One teacher who received a pink slip was my friend Judy. I shared her story last year when I wrote about the power of prayer. Her baby girl, Aimee, tested positive for cystic fibrosis as a newborn, but tests given later proved negative. The doctors wanted to continue monitoring and testing, and after several months of rollercoaster emotions awaiting test results and fearing that every little cough might be the sign of something more serious, they received very positive news – she continues to show no markers of the disease.
One teacher who received a pink slip was my friend Judy. I shared her story last year when I wrote about the power of prayer. Her baby girl, Aimee, tested positive for cystic fibrosis as a newborn, but tests given later proved negative. The doctors wanted to continue monitoring and testing, and after several months of rollercoaster emotions awaiting test results and fearing that every little cough might be the sign of something more serious, they received very positive news – she continues to show no markers of the disease.
And then today happened.
With the district letting go of over 30 permanent teaching positions, she will likely lose her job.
I talked with her about this and asked how she was feeling. She said that it was hard to hear that news. She has faced this for the past few years as a temporary teacher, and always was able to be hired back in the fall; but this time, even though her position is now permanent, with the drastic cuts and increase in class sizes, it seems unlikely that she will return next year. She faces the loss of income and much-needed benefits. She faces an uncertain future in a should-be promising career.
But, as she was driving home today, she looked in the rearview mirror and saw her daughter in the backseat and her thought was “I could stay home with Aimee!”
Where is the blessing in losing a job? For Judy, it might be to gain precious time with the miraculous gift God has given to her.
I talked with her about this and asked how she was feeling. She said that it was hard to hear that news. She has faced this for the past few years as a temporary teacher, and always was able to be hired back in the fall; but this time, even though her position is now permanent, with the drastic cuts and increase in class sizes, it seems unlikely that she will return next year. She faces the loss of income and much-needed benefits. She faces an uncertain future in a should-be promising career.
But, as she was driving home today, she looked in the rearview mirror and saw her daughter in the backseat and her thought was “I could stay home with Aimee!”
Where is the blessing in losing a job? For Judy, it might be to gain precious time with the miraculous gift God has given to her.
John 16:33
I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.
Trials will come. Troubles will face us. But we can take heart as we serve a God who has overcome the world.
Ezekiel 34:26
I will make them and the places surrounding my hill a blessing. I will send down showers in season; there will be showers of blessing.
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