[Nevertheless] We Seek the Blessings

Sometimes pruning is unexpected, abrupt, and stressful. For example, when my husband showed up at work to be told he was no longer employed - with no warning, no notice - we were both shocked. He had been a loyal, hardworking employee for about fifteen years. He came in early, worked late, and came in on days off as requested. Then, poof - it was over, gone...he was unemployed.

We are a paycheck to paycheck family. Expenses related to our various health issues are great, and I am unable to work due to my multiple chronic illnesses combined with spending the equivalent of a part to full time job managing everyone's differing medical needs, including my own.

In times like these, we can focus on the stressors or we can choose to see things in a different light. Don't get me wrong, this is a stressful time, nevertheless, we choose to seek the blessings. Most jobs require applying online and do not want people to apply in person these days, so my husband is now home to help with taking children to doctor appointments, contribute more to housework, and to cook on the nights I'm at rehearsal with one child or another, in addition to going to job fairs and otherwise seeking employment. He's able to work on the heart necklaces, guitar picks, and other things he makes as a hobby and which helps to fund our children's homeschool and summer camp adventures. We're able to take time to go hiking together and spend time working on our marriage. And on days when I'm unable to get out of bed, he can take over chaos.

We're able to together figure out what is working for us and what is not in our relationship, in our household, for his future work, and in our lives. We have the time and space to figure out what to cut away from our lives in order that we may flourish.

He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. John 15:2