Ecclesiastes 3:1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:
It’s been a couple of weeks since I posted. My delay is because I have been dealing with my job close-out, updating my resume, and planning for my next big adventure. My last day at work is April 27th. Since I have been fortunate to work from home over the past few years, my close out has also been remote. It is quite unusual to check out of a company this way. Many of my colleagues that are also leaving (and there are a lot of us) were put into “HR” holding departments. We were not checked out by our managers, but by people that the company calls “Professional Administrators” or “PAs.” My PA is a lovely girl, but she is 5 levels below my own job level and someone that I did not have a job relationship with during my time with the company. During my exit interview, we had a big laugh about it all and talked about what I needed to send back to her from my bag of company goodies. Basically, it all came down to a box with a laptop and an express mail envelope with my ID, Corporate Card, Calling Card, and signed paperwork stating that I won’t sue them for anything in the past or related to this job loss. For a laugh, I’m attaching a picture of the two boxes that represent, for the company, my 14 years of service to them. I gained so much more in friendship and in knowledge than what is represented by those two boxes. I gave 100% to what I did for the company and therefore, I take away a truckload of happiness and satisfaction at having this work experience. It’s worth a lot more than the two small boxes of plastic and paper.
Check-Out in a Box
This week, God reminded me of the words of wisdom from Ecclesiastes 3:1, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.” Everything is in God’s time. It’s time for me to leave this company and follow God’s next plan for my life. God’s timing is perfect. When you experience a change in your life that seems insurmountable or that takes you in a different direction than you wanted to go, remember the words of Ecclesiastes 3 and be comforted. Move ahead knowing that everything happens according to God’s plan and in his time.
Side note:
This week I’ve had an old song playing in my head. Do you remember how Carol Burnett used to close her TV show back in the 70s? What a lovely song she sang and one that fits this change in my life. The words are below and I found a clip of her singing it on YouTube. Hope you have some time to enjoy the words and the clip.
“I’m so glad we had this time together, just to have a laugh or sing a song.
Seems we just get started and before you know it
Comes the time we have to say, So Long!”
Wow, this is so good. You sum up so many things about a job when you write your feelings. I had to laugh at how you send it all back in a box, but your can’t possibly tell all the memories and wisdom that you have been shown!!! It was so good to see you all at the handbell program on Sunday night.
Jeanne,
You and I of course have talked but it is odd that we both gave 100% or more to the place we worked and then were let go after 14 years. The situations of course were very different. Yours being that they said they were sending your job oversea’s mine being because I had been out on Workers Comp. for so long although through no fault of my own. If only I had been listened to sooner either my injury would have been found and taken care of sooner or I would have know what was going on.
I will admit that I was devastated when I received a letter in the mail instead of someone coming and telling me. I felt like I deserved that much at least. At first I cried,then I got angry then I wondered what I was going to do. In the letter I was only given 3 days to clean out my office, which with my injury I knew was going to be hard to do. I will have to admit it did take me some time to get used to this. I was then just so hurt. I enjoyed my job. The office part and paper work part was not enjoyable, but working with the children and youth was very fullfilling. I then thought back to when and how I got the job and know 100% that the Lord gave me the job. I had to accept that this had to be part of His plan and would just have to trust Him to show me what He would have me to do. I began searching my heart and my bible God’s word for anwers for what I was to do. God kept taking me to the book of Job. Look at all Job went through and his friends kept trying to get Job to go against God. Not one time did Job blame God. In my bible I had written that Satan tries to do all he can to make you mad at God but we must remember that God is always in control. Sometimes we get impatient but must remember that God has His own timing and we must be patient and must be still and wait on Him. That is not always easy as I’ve been dealing with surgeries and 24/7 pain for over 4 years now. I must say this has made me more understanding of those who are hurting and those who are home alone, since I have been home since I was hurt in Feb. of 2005. I also have thought much about Esther. She is one of my favorite Bible Characters. I think about the courage she had not just going into the kings palace but going before the king knowing she could be killed. What a faith she must have had. Knowing that what was going to happen to the whole Jewish Nation was in her hands alone. I saw that Job received everything that he lost back twice as much other than his children, who were already in heaven, from God. Then Esther was given a great place beside the King, her Uncle was placed in the palace and given a place of greatness and those who wanted to hurt the Jews were killed.
Sometimes we want things to happen right now and in our way but God and only God knows our future and although it is not easy we must wait on Him.
Jeanne, I know this time is hard for you but this too shall pass. Know that I care as your friend and do know how your feeling and am here to listen when you need a listening ear.
Know that God is always available 24 hours a day. His phone line never closes, isn’t that GREAT!!
Hi
Jews and Christians, what do you think about the Book of Ecclesiastes where it says "Everything is meaningless?
This is very interesting.Reading your conversations inspired so many people.
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This is very interesting.Reading your conversations inspired so many people.
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