Second Chances

Like clockwork the first day back at work I felt a little tickle in my throat. Tuesday there was some coughing and a sore throat. Wednesday, increasing symptoms and Thursday an all out clobbering of the winter cold. I had been thinking since I had gone through the fall without symptoms, that maybe I would make it through the end of cough and flu season without a trace of either. Didn't make it...


That isn't exactly big news, but what I am about to write is. I will give a quick synopsis and then will write in more detail later on. Word is our computer is back at Micro Center so when it is home and fully restored I will do details. Oh, the computer being back is not the announcement.


My time off during the holiday season was full of things to ponder, pray over, and consider. I kept thinking about the Dr telling me I had been given a second chance. He talked with me quite a bit concerning what and how got me to his office in my condition on September 11. What in my life could I change to help make sure I did not walk this path again anytime soon? He said it at least 4 times, you have been given a second chance, what are you going to do about it? Believe me in the past few months there has been a lot of changes. Learning to say no to social things, going to bed at decent times, changing the way I approach my stress eating, looking at what is causing stress, and portion control at mealtime. All good changes, all making a difference...but yet I knew there was something more. As I contemplated everything, I was reading a Christian fiction, that is an oxymoron, book called Providence. The subtitle is Getting a Second Chance at Life. Providence is a great read and there were so many quotes that I wrote down out of this work of fiction. The Word is taught in that book and it ministered to me.

I have also listened to cardiologists on the radio, who happen to be believers, and the phrase second chance is peppered all about in their conversations and answers to the interviewer. I have been praying asking for Wisdom and seeking God's guidance in this word to me, second chances. I asked Roy and friends to join me in praying about direction.

It became very clear to me that I needed to resign my position of Ministries Associate at Houston's First Baptist Church. God's peace surrounds my heart in this. I told Jason on Wednesday. We both cried. There is so much that I love about the job and I love the people I work with. A good trait to have is taking ownership of the job, but sometimes I took on too much and stressed out over many little things, oh and some big things too.

So, my last day is January 30th. I wanted to help Jason get MidLink, Milestones and Song of Solomon conference taken care of. On February 1, it will feel strange to walk back into church as just a church member and not a church and staff member. Like I said, I have some thoughts on all of this and I will sharing. But for now, you know, if you need someone to go to lunch with or hang out with, I think I will be available. After a while I might even think about working some place part time, but God is going to have to drop that one in my lap. Right now I am all about taking care of Roy, Buddy and me.