FAITHFUL WITH LITTLE

I’ve worked at the same place for about ten years. Almost six years full time, the rest part time. I have changed significantly from when I started working there, in fact, if me ten years ago walked up to me today, I’d hardly recognize her. I’ve changed physically, emotionally, spiritually, and even economically.

I don’t make much money working at this place. I’ve always struggled to make ends meet. In the beginning of my tenure there, I never had enough leftover to save any money. If something went wrong with my car, I charged it. If I wanted to take a weekend trip, I charged it. If I was short on money but needed groceries, I charged them. In the beginning I thought one day I’d get another job and catch up or get married and then it wouldn’t matter (yeah, that makes me laugh, too). Then, as I matured, I realized the Knight with Shining Checkbook wasn’t the answer to my problems, deep pit and I was drowning in it.

Knowing the pit was of my own making didn’t help. About two years ago, I came to enjoy the department I finally landed in and after a while I settled in. I got on a budget. My credit card didn’t get used (it’s very lonely). I picked up odd jobs and babysitting jobs on the weekend. I lived within my means and was managing to get out of debt a little bit at a time. I was given a car to drive when the old one died.

I was going to be okay. I may not be rolling in dough, but I had a roof over my head, food to eat, and clothes to wear. So I told the Lord that if he wanted me to move on, he would have to make it so abundantly clear that even I wouldn’t miss it. I stopped looking for jobs (someday I’ll list my jobs and show how I never got a job I applied for – every job I’ve ever had I’ve fallen into backwards).

Two years went by. I plugged along, being faithful with what little I had. I even managed to save enough money for a plane ticket to California for my first vacation in ten years. I was, indeed, okay.

So imagine my surprise when, about two weeks ago, a friend of mine (I worked with her before I took my current job ten years ago) called and said, “send me your resume, I’ve recommended you for a job.” We had talked about our jobs at lunch one day this fall but I never expected this. Truthfully. I really wasn’t looking for another job.

I sent over the resume, still not expecting anything. I wasn’t sure I was qualified, and to tell the truth, the only interviews I’d managed to get in the last five years were with other churches. When my friend’s boss called and requested an interview, I was surprised.

I wasn’t sure this is what I wanted, remember I was happy where I was and I had lots of friends at this job, but I went on the interview to honor my friend’s confidence in me. I still wasn’t expecting anything.

I told my friend’s boss I would be coming to this interview in jeans, since this is what I wear to work and we were putting Christmas out in the store. So I was in jeans, and I was… glittery when I drove out to the interview.

I told myself as I walked in to just be myself and see what happened. Prospective new boss was wearing black jeans, so I didn’t feel so self conscious. We sat down, he told me about the company, what he was looking for, and asked me what I could do. To be honest, this is the first time in my job search history when having so many different jobs and being so diverse in my skills and learning German and not Spanish has actually paid off. The more he described what he needed, the more I was interested in the job.

Yet, twenty minutes later when he offered me the job, I was shellshocked. He told me to call him in the morning with salary requirements and told me I could wait until Monday to give him my final answer.

I left the interview thinking, “holy cow, now what do I do?” I called my friend. I told her I had absolutely no clue what my salary requirements should be. She threw out a number, which was more than I was making and I thought that would be nice, especially with the unbelievable benefits package they were offering me. Jene’ had said I didn’t want to sell myself short and appear as if I valued my skills and to keep that in mind. I took the number my friend had suggested to bed with me.

The next day was my day off and trip to Galvestion. At 7:45 a.m. my friend called me and said she’d done some research and we were aiming way too low. So she gave me a figure and with that in mind, I called prospective new boss. I went for slightly lower than the figure she gave me (come on, I’m not greedy) and gave him a range, let’s say A-C. He said he’d call me back.

An hour later, just before I left for Galveston, he called. He gave me C. This number was a 50% increase in pay as a STARTING salary. My brain felt like scrambled eggs. I couldn’t believe it. It would have been foolish to turn this job down, so I accepted and we negotiated a start time.

This opportunity fell in my lap and I am ever so grateful.

The hardest part is leaving behind the people at my current job. I actually cried when I gave my notice. My current boss said, “I didn’t see this coming.” I shook my head and said, “I didn’t either.”

I hope I can be as faithful with much as I was faithful with little. The first thing I did was draw up a budget. I can’t believe that I might just make my goal of being out of debt and in reliable transportation by the time I’m 40.

I’m still overwhelmed. A week from Monday I will start this new phase of my life and I am so grateful.

Be faithful with little, and you’ll be amazed at just how much much is.