The End of One Season and the Beginning of Another

Yesterday was my last day working at the preschool, and as I was driving away after work, I cried. That job and and the kids there have been such a blessing to me over these past seven months. In the last few weeks before I graduated college last December, I was really praying that the Lord would provide a job on campus since I didn't have a car. I asked the preschool, and they mentioned that they had a 12 hours/per week position that was open and they would love for me to apply. That wasn't really enough hours, but I applied anyway...and when I got back from Thailand and had my final interview, I found out that I had a job, not only that, but I had almost 30 hours a week.

I knew going into my first semester post-college, I needed time to rest and really pray about what came next. I hurried through college so fast that I hadn't taken any time to really consider what was next. And so when I came back from Thailand and started my job at the preschool, I had such a peace that this is what the Lord had. I didn't know if it was for a few months or for a year or more, but I knew that I was desperately in need of time to rest, reflect, pray and plan.

I loved that job. The teachers that I worked with loved Jesus and those kids like few that I have met. They have blessed me with their support and encouragement in a myriad of ways. And those sweet kids just squirmed their way right into my heart! The best moments were when a rambunctious three-year-old would run up spontaneously and grab my legs as hard as he could, or when one of my little girls would ask me to read, "The story about the man named Saul becoming the the man named Paul", or when one of my four-year-olds would look at me and say the silliest things in the most serious way.

They are all so precious to me, and this time of pouring into them and loving them has been so wonderful...I pray that they would grow to love Jesus like He has loved them. They are in His hands as I leave, and there is grace and peace in that truth.

And now that season is finished. I'm start working fulltime at a "grown-up" office job as a licensed insurance agent one week from Monday. As excited as I am, I'm sad to be leaving. What God has had has been so good and caused me to grow in so many ways, and I know that doesn't stop simply because my job has changed. I'm encouraged to see the way God has provided, but I also think it's ok to be sad that something that I love won't be a part of my life anymore. More than sadness, though, I feel great joy that the Lord holds my life in His hands, and that He is working all things for my good, holiness and sanctification.