By: Robert Jones
Changing Our Narrative
As I sit down to reflect on the things for which I am thankful I can’t help but feel like time is flying by extremely fast. It seems like just a short time ago I was looking over the precipice of a new year with expectation of making it a fulfilling experience personally and professionally. Now, like a blur most of the year has passed and l am making the final ascent of 2019 once again looking forward to all the potential growth and accomplishment of the coming year. Given that the times change so rapidly, it becomes immensely important to engage in moments like this one to reflect on the miracle of life and make note of the things and moments for which I am grateful.
My roles as husband and father keep my family always at the forefront of my mind. Just saying that I am thankful for them and everything they bring to my life seem like an immense understatement. Their health and well being are the criteria by which I hope my life to be judged. Providing for them is a paramount responsibility in my life. So, one could imagine how upset and uncertain I felt earlier this year as I had grown terribly unfulfilled in my professional work. I struggled between remaining unfulfilled and unappreciated while holding on to a good job because it helped me provide for my family or venturing out into the job market which I had not done for 12 years. I also knew a job change could uproot and move my family depending on the outcome. Knowing this, I worried how this substantial change might impact the family.
Ultimately, after much thought and discussion I began to apply for new employment. Although I tried to stay local to Tucson, AZ to minimize the impact to my children’s lives, I ended up accepting a job in Redondo Beach, CA.
As anyone could imagine I am thankful for the new job and the new opportunities it presents. But most of all through this process I am thankful for the complete support of my family. My wife has had my back and my daughters have been amazingly strong during the transition.
One thing about life is constant, and that is at some point everything will change. I am thankful to have a team that has proven we can stay afloat among the strong winds of change. I don’t know what tomorrow will bring, no one does, but it is something of a comfort to know I can look back on this time to remind my family and to remind myself that with our faith in God and with each other we can make it through anything.
Robert Jones, M.A. Christian Apologetics is the Young Adult Pastor at Rising Star MBC. Robert is the Founder of Knowledge and Proclamation and a senior contributor at ReelUrbanNews.com rob@knowledgeandproclamation.com
