Encouragement from a Friend

Leah and I got this message yesterday:

I have not made a decision in my life to leave the country as a career change but there have been career changes in my life that have produced anxiety. The career change from working full time at a job that I really loved to “a first time ‘mom’ staying home to take care of a baby” produced a lot of anxiety for me. My husband was working a lot, my own mother was close by but worked full time, my sister was close by but worked full time, my best friend was close by but worked full time. I had no idea how I was going to do this. I made myself physically ill many, many times just worrying about what to do if the baby chokes, what to do if the baby gets suddenly sick, what is normal for a baby, etc. That baby is 34 years old now with 2 siblings. A dear friend gave me the book “Two from Gallilee” as I read it I realized that Mary had the same concerns I had plus she was not married and had those concerns as well. Through it all she relied solely on God for her strength, her confidence, and her direction. That became my focus to give me the confidence and decision making skills to take care of a newborn and raise that newborn to adulthood. I didn’t always realize it at the time. I had to get through some pretty rough days, weeks, months before I could fully see God at work. For me, I have to look backwards and then I see His footprints along side mine. We will not sit back and expect a miracle although I think God always wants us to expect a miracle. We will work hard at this, but we will also look for his footprints.

We are truly grateful for friends who remind us of the important attitudes in life; the importance of journeying along with God.