Its that time again. Another election year where we decide who will lead our country for the next 4 years. This is an important decision that none of us should take lightly. Each time an election year comes up, I remember a simple 6th grade classroom. Mrs. Whitten was our teacher and she made a lasting impression on me about the importance of respect, honor, devotion to our country and so much more. She made us memorize the Presidential Oath. We learned about the Constitution, The Declaration of Independence. It was important to her, and she made it important to me.
She also made us think about what we wanted to do when we grow up. We had to think about what we wanted to do with our lives. We even had to research our field of choice, get more information on it and write a report on it. For me, it was a no brainer. In Mrs. Whitten’s class in 6th grade I was determined to be a lawyer and nothing else (Ironically years later it was to open a night club Franklin’s). After all, the lawyers that we saw on TV shows, drove nice cars, lived in big houses, and had a LOT of money.
What I didn’t know is how much reading is involved to be a lawyer. How many late nights, weekends, time away from family that lawyers have to put it. There is no way in this world that I would ever want to be a lawyer. It is so far from who I am and what I love to do, but Mrs. Whitten still made me think about what I wanted to be when I grew up.
Today, life has forced me into growing up. We have a house, 2 cars, 2 boys, and things in life that we enjoy doing. These cost money. To earn money, I have to have a job. Having a job means having responsibilities and people that I am responsible for. Being responsible, means sadly, growing up.
I watch the boys with envious eyes. I see how they, like me, love to play the Xbox, love to play on their tablets. Joseph would rather play on those that be outside any day. Jason loves cars, jeeps, trucks and especially Hot Wheels. I have a collection of unopened Hot Wheels in my office downstairs and he can’t understand why I don’t open them and play with them. He is all the time bringing me one of his cars, to add to my collection.
I see life in their eyes. I see imagination in their faces. I love it when I go downstairs and there are toys, racetracks and cars, light sabers everywhere. I love picking up a light saber and battling Joseph. I love it when Jason wants to help me do anything even if it is walking beside me cutting grass. I love being a kid again, with them not thinking about grown up junk, bills, working on the house, laundry.
At the beginning of 2016, I made the decision to change jobs. My current job, requires a long drive to and from work. It is 10 hour days either on a job site or estimating new projects. I come in to work at 6:30 and work solid until I leave at 4:30. If I am lucky, I get just a few hours with the boys before bedtime and then if I can stay awake from being exhausted, I get some time with Steph. This is not how I pictured being grown up.
So my prayer for a while now is “God, please make my job better.”
God answered.
At the end of this week, I will have completed my 2 weeks notice that I turned in to my current employer. God answered my prayer and is going to make my job better. He opened another door for me. Fortunately, it is a door that I walked out of, to come here, but with better circumstances. No job is perfect but the one that I am returning to, is a familiar door. It is an opportunity that will allow me more time with my family, more time to take care of responsibilities, and more time for me. All of these are important, and will give me the chance to make life seem a little less grown up.
Dear God
Once again, You have shown that You are faithful and that You care about me. You care when I am hurting and miserable. You care that I miss my family time. You only want the best for me. You have allowed me to see my prayers were for what I wanted and not what You have in store for me and You have protected me and my family. Go with me, watch over us and protect us.
I will trust in You!
Keith
KWHITE75 