Plan A

I love my job.

Recently I told someone that I’ve learned more in the four years I’ve been at this job than all my other places of employment combined. I’m fairly certain no one dreams of this kind of job when they’re children. Being neck deep in paperwork, costing and the precarious industry of manufacturing doesn’t rank as high as the worthy goals of being a teacher or a firefighter. Even for the little girl in me who wants to be a writer full-time one day, I’m not sure I could have dreamed up this job.

And yet here I am.

It’s not just the job. I thrive in this position. I’m smart, analytical, observant and hardworking. (Am I allowed to say these things without sounding arrogant?) People come to me because they trust me to get it done right. Thankfully, I have my assistant now who I can pass things off on because I trust him to get it right. (Have I mentioned how smart and awesome he is? Pure genius, whoever hired him… *cough*) I work with amazing, smart, hardworking people who make it fun to be here, and make enduring the frustrating parts of the job bearable.

I’ve gotten tougher. Leaner. Better at saying no. Better at seeing multiple sides to an issue to round out a stronger solution. I’ve learned that the big picture is just as important as the details, and that business can only be personal if you want things to get messy. The amazing thing about this place is the owners’ and managers’ willingness to allow you stretch and pull against the boundaries of your ‘job description’. If you’re willing to learn, they’re eager to teach you.

Being at a job that carries with it the potential of being a career makes it a whole new kettle of fish. I’ve learned that it is actually possible to be a job where you wouldn’t mind waking up to it for the foreseeable future. After trudging through the neck deep and murky waters of infertility, having the Lord open doors to a satisfying career is an amazing blessing. Realizing over the past years that whatever we do we are serving Christ Jesus has been foundational to moving on and finding new hope, healing and purpose.

I love my job.
I love that the Lord dropped this job on my lap and told me to be still.
I love that many aspects of this job are making me a stronger, well-rounded individual who sleeps well at night because she’s exhausted and satisfied.
I love that I can be the breadwinner at an enjoyable job so my husband can have the opportunity to be at school.

I’m not bragging. I truly hope it doesn’t come across that way. It’s moments of gratitude such as these, however, that make me want to etch permanent markings on my heart as a positive, glowing reminder that there is no Plan B with God. We may not be walking a path we would have chosen. We may wonder at times how we got where we did. The answer is always that God had it sorted out long ago with two purposes: His glory and our good.

And always in that order. His glory. Our good.