Starting Over

I have had several starting over periods in my life. The most difficult of these was in 2005 when, at age 41, I was laid off from, of all places, a church. It came as a complete surprise in January 2005. I, like most everyone else, had care payments, mortgage, credit cards, etc., and all of a sudden our household income was cut almost in half. I figured that I could find a job in a couple of weeks, four at the most and we would be back on track but that was a bad assumption. We were living in Southwest Michigan at the time and the economy was taking a downward turn. I tried several opportunities but none played out. I wound up driving a school bus (I made more doing that than I could have working at most other jobs in the area in an entry level position). My wife and I had decided to move back home (Georgia) so I drove until the end of the school year and we packed up. We lost the house, van, and had to file bankruptcy. It was the worst time in our lives. We had been in financial hard times before but never like this. I took us quite some time to get over the depression and since of loss. I'll have to say that my faith in God and the support of family and friends is what got us through. We moved back home and my wife and I both got jobs then about six months after getting back and I was laid off again. I was able to start another job without interruption but I had to take a $4.00 per hour cut in pay. It was rough for a while but through continued prayer and God coming through for us financially, we made it somehow. About six months into the new job I received a call from the place I got laid off from and was offered a supervisory position making $2.00 per hour more than what I had previously made. Needless to say, we were on an emotional and financial roller coaster for several years but we have gone through the grieving process and have made peace in our spirits and have learned forgiveness. Through it all I have tried to keep a positive attitude and tried not to worry about the future. I maintain my faith in God and Him having control over my life. Proverbs 3:5,6 is a good scripture to live by;

Proverbs 3:

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

And lean not on your own understanding;

⁶ In all your ways acknowledge Him,

And He shall ^£direct your paths.

I hope that if you are going through a valley in your life that you will turn to those around you for help

and put your trust in the Lord, He will truly direct your path if you'll let him.

Have a blessed day,

Ken