Are You Happy to Go Back to Work?
There were rumblings in a certain family on New Year’s Day.
I won’t say who, but certain people with sermons and other people who were enjoying sleeping in every day and other people who had Spanish class to think about might have been moaning about getting back into the swing of things soon.
I thought of this when the pawn shop commercial kept coming on during the bowl game. I don’t know which bowl.
You know I wasn’t watching the game.
Although, out of sheer boredom, I had plenty to say about those hideous, bright green Duck uniforms (Sorry, Oregon), and I wondered who gets paid to raise the All State sign behind the goal thingy and how one football game could last so long and never end. Ever.
But the pawn shop commercial was interesting, and Matt gave me a lesson in why a person would take his lawn mower to the pawn shop in winter and pick it up again in the spring.
Because he needs a loan to pay the January bills.
I had spent that morning paying bills and catching up from the money mess that was December. (I want to say getting my ducks in a row for January, because that fits with the ugly uniform theme.) I filled the kitchen bar with budget papers, receipts, bills, checkbook, and a calculator.
Are you sure you want to do that to yourself on New Year’s Day? my husband said, on the way to his mother’s house where there is cable television and an endless supply of little smokies and Fresca.
After an hour and a half with my head bent over the checkbook, there weren’t any pennies left, but I had paid all the bills. With that task done I headed off to hang out at my mother-in-law’s house.
For the record, I would choose paying bills over football.
Later I was driving home from “watching” football and was trying to work up cheerfulness about the end of vacation and the beginning of what Matt calls “the long drought of holidays”. I decided a job that pays bills is a good thing, whereas it is a miserable situation to be in such a tight spot that you have to risk losing your lawn mower.
Solomon says:
Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies have no sense. Proverbs 12:11
I am highly motivated by food, especially abundant food, which is the highlight of both watching football and of having a job.
So to all you drip coffeemaker people who are mounding the coffee a little higher in the filter today, in an effort to consume courage and enthusiasm for going to work, I say, Hurray for being able to pay rent and eat food!
We shake pom poms to the breadwinners.
Just not those ugly yellow Duck pom poms.
Yeah, we share the same enthusiasm over football… Thanks for the great perspective on having just enough. There’s a proverb about that, I’m pretty sure.
Hi, Christy, I, too, echo each sentiment about being so grateful that I have found your site, each heart-and-head-hit that the Lord gives me through it, each encouragement to continue trusting Him, walking in step with Him, and your delightful sense of sharing your teachable moments (with humor–the Ducks? the uni and pom uglies, chuckle, chuckle. I have much OR loyalty: Portland born, a sister who was a Duck for two years, and as well, a fearless-about-proclaiming-Christ Duck QB… but the game DID go on forever!) with gentleness and winsomeness. You are such a delight! May you and Matt continue to have the Lord’s strengthening and encouragement in 2015!
You’re very kind!I was hoping any Oregon folk would understand that I don’t care enough about football to truly offend you. 🙂 Thank you for the prayer -we need it!
Thank you! I am the one making the pennies stretch, my husband is a second career pastor. We have a beautiful home, 2 adult kids and one in high school. What a blessing to have your blog link come via Club 31 women. I will be bookmarking your blog. I think I needed to hear both of your messages today. Post holiday drought always comes after Christmas doesn’t it!
It sounds like we have a lot in common, Mary. I’m heading into second semester, in which my baby will graduate. I was just rejoicing that my days of packing cold lunches are almost over! Thank you very much for the encouragement. It came at just the right time.
Christy, I have just been sooo blessed to ‘find’ you on the Internet. Thank you for sharing real moments that truly touch my heart….in fact, sometimes, ‘hit me in the head’. May God continue to work through you to reach so many others!
Sorry about the hits to the head. 🙂 Thanks for that prayer and for taking the time to write!
Hi Christy, OMGosh, u make me lol. Thanks for brightening my day and speaking the truth. Love your style of writing and your blog so much!!!
Thank you so much. I needed that encouragement today!
Thanks for the encouraging words. I am back at work because, unlike you, Bozeman didn’t get any snow. However, I like my work so all is good.
Well, it’s beautiful here, but Matt spent four hours behind the snow blower today, and it just kept snowing.