Last weekend, my husband, Wendell, was given a Lifetime Member award at a medical society luncheon. He told me it was “no big deal.” Several other doctors were recognized in the same way. In fact, he said, it just meant that he was old and that he had paid a whole lot of dues to that organization over the last thirty years.
The second part is true. But I think it means a lot more. In our society, not a lot of people stick with something for thirty years. Not a career. Not a wife. Not a dream. And Wendell has stuck with all three. We are kind of bundled together, in fact. His calling as a doctor and his calling in the Kingdom of God are intertwined. And I get to twine myself right in there amongst them, thank you very much.
It made me think about how many of you have been paying the dues and showing up for the job lots of years without any recognition at all. You probably have no idea what kind of impact you are having in the world just by being consistent. Reliable. Present.
You may think your job has no big spiritual implications, but you underestimate the power of a life lived with integrity. You never know who is watching you punch that clock and give an honest day’s work every day.
So, here’s to you today, Dear Reader.
To each of you who are still doing the work, serving the call, loving the people, getting things done. I don’t have a ribbon or a plaque or a monetary reward to send you. So, I’ll just say thanks for your service.
And, I’ll see you again tomorrow.
A little over 23 years ago I brought our son into this world after 8 years of trying to have a baby. We had all the tests run, surgical procedures, and an ectopic pregnancy which resulted in having to remove one fallopian tube. For various reasons, (my age of 38 being one of the reasons) that tubal pregnancy decreased my chances to get pregnant from 50% down to about 20%. I had a wise and Christian doctor doctor who kept encouraging us to continue, of which God did bless us with a perfect pregnancy and delivery and a child with such a sweet spirit! I gave up the business world to raise our child. I babysat children until our own was entering third grade level (homeschooled) and I felt I needed to concentrate totally on being his teacher. He entered public school in freshman year, finished high school, finished college at Wm Woods with a degree in journalism and a minor in music. I never returned to working outside the home and to this day, I am a “domestic engineer” by trade. Being a stay at home mom is one thing, and accepted, but being a housewife is not looked upon kindly and even judged as being lazy or too unintelligent to get a job outside the home. The truth is, I work hard at making our house a home, a shelter from the”world” a place where my husband can come home to hot meal and relax after his day at work. This is my “job” … To cook & clean, make his lunch, wash & mend his clothes, praying always, and not stressing from having to buy work clothes, a car, gas, lunch, etc., having to eat processed foods cause they’re quicker, etc. I garden, can or freeze extra, and keep the finances current and bills paid. I just hit retirement age, so FINALLY I can describe myself as “retired” instead of housewife which is so looked down upon, though I feel more ladies might enjoy and flourish if they tried…and in most cases, save money by staying home. Our kids might be better off if one parent could stay home…not just for 6weeks or even 6 years…but the child’s whole home life. Wonder how that would change our country??
All this to say…though I haven’t punched a time clock for a very long time, I will acct your encouraging post! I hope one day being a stay at home wife is given more value than it has in my past experience. Thank you Kathy.
Here is a round of applause from me to you! I loved staying at home the years I was able to do that. And, frankly, I think I would love it again even though our children are grown. I keep reminding myself, “to everything there is a season.” Enjoy your award today!