Daily Wisdom for Women - January 5, 2023

 January 5, 2023 -  "I Will" - "The Lord had said to Abram, 'Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father's family, and go to the land that I will show you.  I will make you into a great nation.  I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt.'"  Genesis 12: 1-3

One of the hardest things I ever did was move to northern Indiana by myself.  I knew no one.  I was starting my teaching career.  I had no money.  My parents had moved from southern Indiana to Ohio.  My sister was going to business school in Evansville.  I was scared.  But I did it.  I had faith that God would take care of me, and He did.  My heart sunk when I learned that at the end of my first week of teaching the veteran teachers would be receiving the final pay on the previous year's contract and that the new contract would not pay until the end of the following two weeks.  I didn't have enough money to get myself through two more weeks!  It would be either no food or no gas, and I needed gas to get back and forth to school.  Fortunately the school board decided to pay us half of our first pay that first Friday, then the rest of it two weeks later.  It wasn't much, but it was enough for me to at least eat something for the next two weeks AND drive to school.  Plus there were two other new teachers who lived in Monticello and we shared rides so that helped too!

I left behind my safety net, living at home, eating food my parents had purchased and prepared, and had struck out on my own.  I never looked back.  When I think of those times, I am amazed now at how strong I was because I certainly didn't feel strong at the time.  

I also think of the blessings I received.  Many friendships.  Meeting Gary and his family.  Getting married (and still going strong after 46 years!).  Two daughters.  Two sons-in-law.  Five grandchildren.  A successful teaching career ---33 years at West Central and 10 years at Ivy Tech, plus retiring as an associate professor!  Who would have thought that back in 1973 when I left the driveway at 1330 Barnes Drive in Wooster, driving a UHaul truck with Sherry following behind in my Ford Maverick?

That has continued into the last six years with deciding to move, finding the perfect house and property for us, and being able to pursue other interests. God has been leading us in the right direction every step of the way!

Help me, Lord, to not get sucked into the idea that I need material things to give me joy. All I really need is you.  Amen.

After I read the prayer, I realized that I went in a different direction than what the devotion was.  Material things.  I know I like material things, and I do buy probably too many things to decorate the house or have too many clothes and especially shoes.  But I am not obsessive about those things like my mom was, and I hope I never am.  I am thankful that I have the means and the ability to buy what I need and sometimes things I don't really need, but I am not substituting them for the relationship I have with God.