Apostolic Friends Forum - It's Funny How Things Play Themselves Out

Ya know, sometimes I have to scratch my head at how things work themselves out. A few months ago I got a job I honestly thought was going to be my last job. The company offered all the things I am looking for in terms of retirement, there was room for me to advance, and the people were very easy to get along with. So, I took this job and thought I was on my way. Well, not too long after I started this job things starting happening that I was not counting on. It turned out that I was given a shift working from 3:30 to midnight. At first I didn't mind because I had been told that I would have the time to do my school work because of how slow things are. This was the main reason why I accepted this shift. Not too long after I accepted this shift I found myself so far behind in my school work that I ended up dropping out. What I had been told turned out to be a lie.

Anyway, after I dropped out of my online college courses, I decide to make the best of this job. Before I knew it, the company had piled so many things on me to do that I really started not liking the job. I went from looking forward to going in every day to wondering how bad a mood I would be in when I headed home every night at midnight. By this time some other unexpected things were happening at home.

My wife is a good woman, but she just isn't good with controlling all these kids. There are four of them and you have to really stay on top of them or they end up walking all over you. Well, my wife, unfortunately, lost control of the kids and they were pretty much doing whatever they wanted to. They knew that I wouldn't be home until after midnight, so the party was on! This became a serious problem in our home. They were completely disrespecting her and basically had taken the house over. It was difficult for me to do much about this, seeing as how I literally did not see my children except for my days off. I tried implementing different punishment strategies, but it's too little too late to punish someone on Saturday for something they did on Monday, especially when you are talking about a 6 year old and 7 year old. I can't honestly say that I blame them. It's only natural for kids to take advantage when they know they can. My wife just isn't capable of controlling them the way I can, when I have the opportunity to interact with them on a daily basis.

To continue, I tried repeatedly to get my shift changed and the higher ups absolutely refused. I am bilingual and second shift is where they needed me. No transfer to a day shift. On top of that, I was forced into becoming a collector and I can't stand collectors. On my last week there I was informed that I had to take the collector training because I spoke Spanish and they had lost too many Spanish collectors.

By the time this had happened, two other things had already happened. I had prayed and asked God to get me out of that situation and I had already scheduled my vacation for the week of March 24th, this coming week.

The night finally came, two weeks ago last Thursday, that I decided I had had enough so I quit. I told them that I would not accept being forced to become something I can't stand, and that I was not going to continue putting my family at risk because of this company's refusal to move me to a day time shift.

Here comes the part that has me scratching my head and wanting to shout! The last month or so I was at this job I started thinking about getting back into insurance work. I had made OK money selling insurance and had been tossing this idea back and forth and back and forth. The very next week after I quit I got a notification from the Employment Office (I get these in the mail every few weeks when they find something my qualifications match) that a local bank was looking for an insurance agent to run their agency. Unlike most agent positions, this one offers a decent salary plus commission. I submitted my resume and got a phone call from the bank VP on Friday. I have an interview with them tomorrow at 10 am!! This is the same week I had already scheduled for my vacation, so meeting them at any time would not have been an issue.

On top of that interview, I have another interview with an agency in Evansville on Tuesday. It seems to me that, while I know that I jumped the gun a bit in quitting when I did, the Lord has been working on this situation for me all along. He knows how hard it's been for me to watch how things have deteriorated so much here at home with my kids. When I came home and told them I had quit they were glad. They didn't much like the fact that I wasn't around in the evenings either.

Maybe it is a coincidence that the interview is scheduled for the same week I would have had off, but it's more than a coincidence to me. Insurance jobs like this one don't come along every day. I am not into the whole name it and claim it line of reasoning, but something in me wants to claim this job in Jesus name!

So, I am asking y'all to pray with me that God's will be done with this insurance job. I will admit that I am a bit nervous about getting back into insurance. Anyone who knows me will tell you how much I hate having to keep my beard all nicely and neatly trimmed, along with keeping my hair cut so it looks professional. I prefer looking like a wild man! I am also not into wearing a tie, but I actually went out and bought one for this interview! LOL! Anyway, pray with me about this interview. This job will be good for me. I won't just be working at the agency, I will be running it. Thanks. :)