I wanted to start a blog because I am not very disciplined at journaling on a regular basis. I think it is important to be able to record God's presence in your life, especially when your life is in transition, even when it seems like there is no motion. I want to look back, months from now, and see where God has taken me on this journey, to see His hand laying out the path on which to travel.
My husband and I have been very busy building a retail business over the past 22 years, which was successful up until the last three years. Which by the way, have been dreadful. After many tears, prayers, and exhausting every dollar we could get our hands on, we now find ourselves in quite a different position. We are in the process of closing our business, my husband must find new employment, (by the way, he has not been unemployed since the tender age of 12!) His whole identity has shifted. From business owner, boss, and employer of many, to a middle aged guy now home looking for jobs on the internet. It is not much fun. He does not like it, and I feel very sad for him right now. How did we get in this weird, awful place in the country economically? I am confident that God will deal with the responsible parties that ushered in the graft and corruption that devastated so many people's financial well being. On the other hand, God allowed the meltdown. Clearly, a purpose will be served in all of our lives that have lived through this period of time in the U.S., especially if you were/are a small business owner. Will we ever feel joy or happiness again? For months now, it seems as if we will never feel anything but gloom. But I know that is not true. God is good, He will show up, and provide employment for my very good man. We went from having a very good life, our entire married life, to worrying about potentially losing our home, our very last asset. I know that this blog has been a bummer so far. That is the point. In order to be able to recognize the Lord's direction for the future, I have to be honest about where we are right now. Unfortunately, sad, often discouraged, and displaced is where we find ourselves on this day. So the starting point for the hopefully happier part of the journey is right now.
My sister and I have started baking a delicious & lovely little treat that we have gotten very good reviews on so far. God has opened some doors, and we are walking through them, doors that I previously would have never even thought about. So, as our baking biz expands, I will share the joys and challenges that come with our new adventure.
On a different note, this difficult patch in our family history has made me so appreciate having excellent friends. When adversity comes along, it really does help you determine who your friends are. A very wise good friend of mine shared with me that the only friends that I should be concerned about being connected to are the ones God wants me connected to, relationships that He has sown and cultivated. Very true. Relationships which have no lasting value are really exposed when hard times arrive at your door. But the sun will shine again, we will feel happy again some day. Joel 2:25 - The Lord promises us that He will replace the years the locusts have eaten. (Weird verse, but great meaning). Good Night.
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