Today, there isn’t going to be much of a Bible lesson,
instead, it is the lesson that I have been learning in life this past 6
months.
Pressing refresh on my e-mail yesterday I held my breath, no
new messages. Thinking the e-mail had
been sent in the split second that it took to re-load that page, I hit refresh
again. Nothing… All day I was checking my e-mail obsessively
waiting for news that would change my life as I know it. Either I would be going to Grad School, or I
would be figuring out the new direction and purpose of my life. Finally, when I convinced myself it was too
late to get the e-mail, it came!
In December 2003 when I graduated from college, I had a
small desire to continue my education and to get my Masters Degree so I could
change the world. I also had a much
larger desire to be done with school and get one with real life, and that
course of action won out. After working
at a florist for a short time and a plumbing company that turned into a
marketing firm, we moved in 2005 to Illinois to be near family. Working for a phone book company as a sales
rep, then a not-for-profit as an administrative assistant and then to a
staffing agency to hire and train people, I would never have guessed that life
would bring me to where I was now. In
2008, we were blessed with a beautiful daughter and again in 2009. Staying home with them, I took on a part
time, work-from-home job at the same not-for-profit I had worked at before. That is where the small simple voice of God
started calling me again.
Over the years I have complained a lot about living in the
middle of nowhere away from my family.
Although I have enjoyed the closeness of a small college community in
town, I desired to be in a big city, near stores and restaurants that weren’t
greasy spoons. God was preparing me
though. That small college community is
where I will be going now to get my Masters of Science in Counseling at one of
the highest ranked programs in the nation.
Had I been living in a large town, there would have been no way that it
would be possible for me to attend school while my children are in school or
rely on friends and family the way I will be.
Had I been living anywhere but here, there would not have been that
potential, God was using all that for such a time as this.
In June, I brought up the idea of going to school with my
husband. He questioned things like,
childcare, finances, childcare, where this would happen… childcare…. He told me to look into it. Thinking I was being smart, I started
looking on-line for on-line degrees.
There are some great programs out there, but an on-line degree in
counseling, where you HAVE to be one-on-one to understand and experience is
hard to find a good one and the ones that are out there are expensive.
I prayed that if it were meant to happen, God would make a
way. Looking at our finances and
looking at my schedule, it didn’t seem feasible. I looked into the Eastern Illinois University- located right down
the road, and I set up an appointment with the Director of the program. I was sold in a heartbeat. It would require full-time attendance, but I
would be done in 2 years and 60 hours!
(YIKES!) Tuition would be covered by a Graduate Assistantship and
childcare fell directly into place shortly after that. Within a week, things fell into place. I still felt a little unsettled so I prayed
again that God would give me peace. A
little later, my husband encouraged me to go back to school and get it. I was floored. I was supported and encouraged from every direction. Why was this so easy.
I started the next part.
I filled out the paper work, prayed over my application and sent it
out. I was accepted to the Graduate
School but not the program yet. It was
August by now and the Counseling Program didn’t review applications until
February. FEBRUARY! That was so long to wait. I got impatient. I started looking at other opportunities which God slammed the
door in my face…
I got the e-mail asking me to come to the interview that
would be held March 1st.
Going there, I was nervous. My
nerves jumped even higher when I saw the massive number of people that had
gotten to that level, heard about how amazing the program was and then was told
that there had been another group come through earlier that morning and they only
took 15-20 applicants. By the time the
interview was over, I was convinced I was not getting in. I checked my e-mail every few minutes
starting on Friday night and going all the way through Tuesday.
By 3:30, I was pretty sure that it was too late in the day
to be notified. They told us we would
hear back either Monday or Tuesday and it was late Tuesday. I left my computer alone for the first time
in days and went and took a shower then checked Pinterest (where you can get
lost for hours). I played with my kids
and then I saw the (1) appear next to the email screen I had up. My heart was pounding. I clicked over and it said “Acceptance to
the Graduate School of Counseling”.
Now, I am not a patient person, but God has a plan. If you are somewhere you don’t like or don’t
want to be in your life- stick it out- God will provide for you. God will answer you and lead you and hold
your hand. It is so hard to be
patient! I think I was dealt a very
little portion when it comes to the gene pool, but God is faithful to
provide. So good luck with what God is
calling you to- have patience, follow His guidance and His love and seek Him
and be in His will. There is very
little better feeling than knowing you are following God and feeling His work
in your life.
1 I will sing of the LORD's great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations.
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