7/30/24 - Salt & Light

I have been blogging off and on for nearly four years now. It’s a good way to share Jesus with others and talk about timely topics people need to hear. Sometimes, I blog because of circumstances I encounter in my own life that I pray will help others draw near to the Lord.

Today, I revisited my very first blog called “Salt & Light”. It was written back in December 2020. It was the start of it all.

The start of it all.

What is that really? The start of it all, I mean. Perhaps it was a stirring by my Heavenly Father to share sentiments that were on my mind - things that other people encounter but don’t voice. Things that popped into my head that really didn’t pop into my head, but rather, was strategically placed there by God to make me think.

Some of you know that I moved onto my little farm back in September 2022 when God had clearly told me to “Go home.” I was stiff-necked, though. I intended to have my little place here in Southern Illinois and drive back and forth from my other place in Florida. That wasn’t God’s plan, however, and he moved me back home in a mighty way that only God can. It cost me a lot. Financial, relationship, employment - it really hit hard. Sometimes God has to do it that way.

I was employed by a small rehab company who provided PT, OT and Speech Therapy services to nursing homes. I worked in their compliance department. I loved my job. Really loved my job. It was free from stress; it enhanced skills that many people never feel comfortable with (public speaking); it was my “hand-in-the-glove” position, I thought. God had something better in mind for me, though, which included “Go home.”

I would say that it was around December 2020 that I began getting the push to “Go home.” Interestingly, it was also around the time that I started my blogging. I was living in Florida, working from home for the above-mentioned rehab company. Given the flexible nature of my position, I could work from anywhere, so I’d be in Florida for a few months, then come up to stay with my mother for a couple weeks before repeating the cycle.

As the Lord’s “pressure” started building, however, I decided to employ some wisdom in making decisions that would ultimately put me where I am today. I started delivering Uber Eats for extra money when I was down in Florida. I put every bit into an envelope and stashed it a drawer. From December 2020 until May 2022, I saved every penny I could - tax refunds, Uber Eats money, etc. I had a great little stash going!

During one of my visits back home, I talked with the carpenter who would be building my little house. I asked him, “Can you build a grain bin house?” “No,” he replied. “How about a storage container home?" “I can’t do that either,” he stated. Out of a bit of frustration and a wee bit of sarcasm, I finally asked, “Well, then, can you build me a house out of a yard barn?” “Yes. I can build you a house from a yard barn,” he confirmed. So, in October 2021, I went to Red Brush Outdoors in Evansville, Indiana and ordered a custom-built yard barn that looks nothing like a yard barn and everything like a tiny house. I ordered the largest one they made and presented my down payment. It would be ready sometime in January 2022.

I just want to pause here for a moment, because I think that through this entire affair, God was also trying to teach me some humility. I had a fabulous job making a ton of money. I lived in a lovely home in a gated subdivision, complete with hefty HOA fees and a feeling of “importance”. I was minutes from the ocean. I was living the dream, as most people would envision it. But in Isaiah 55:8, the Word says, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. I was about to get a glimpse into God’s ways.

My little house was brought in and set in place on January 3, 2022. My carpenter couldn’t start work on it until May since he was booked solid until then, but as promised, he started work in early May and I was there to see things begin. Returning to Florida, I was feeling pumped about the prospects of having a little place of my own as I came back and forth from Florida. You heard that right, I planned to continue traveling back and forth. And you are right, that is NOT what God had told me to do. God told me, “Go home.”

I returned to Southern Illinois in mid-July and planned to stay until the project was completed. On August 3, 2022, I received a phone call from the CEO of the little rehab company who employed me. They were implementing a reduction in force (RIF - AKA, I was being laid off along with several other corporate-level employees). My last day of work was that Friday.

Guys, I want to just share with you how good God is and just how amazing He is at orchestrating things. The week that I got laid off was the week that my little house was finished. Complete. No more major money going out for expenses related to the house.

I drove back to Florida, a bit shocked that I no longer had a job. I started applying to work-from-home positions immediately upon my return to Florida. Let me tell you, after completing over 200 job applications - yes, you read that right - and being denied over 200 times - yes, you read that right, too - a person can become a bit dejected and uptight.

I told my husband that I was going to go back up to Southern Illinois to look for work. There’s a husband in this story??? Yes. We had been talking for months about leaving Florida. I suggested Southern Illinois (I mean, God DID tell me “Go home), he said he would never consider Southern Illinois. I suggested Evansville, Indiana. He didn’t want that, either. I bartered for the Kentucky Lake area - again, a “no.” He wanted to live in Chattanooga, Tennessee and nowhere else. And I’ll tell you that Chattanooga, Tennessee is not even close to “Go home.” I know that God does not like divorce. I didn’t want a divorce, but that is exactly what happened. The day the papers were filed, I got in my truck and “Went home.” I arrived in the wee hours of September 7th, 2022.

I took a day just to rest and cry then opened up my computer to begin applying for more jobs. The difference was that this time, I was applying for jobs outside of the home.

I applied for a position with Walmart. I applied for a position with CVS. I applied for a secretary position with the local special education co-op (Wabash Ohio Valley Special Education District). WOVSED called me right away and scheduled an interview. I met with the Director and Assistant Director, both who I knew from when my own child received special education services years ago.

Now, my degree is in speech-language pathology. I was applying for a secretary position. I sat down across from these ladies and Monica began, “I know you applied for the secretary position, but we would really love to talk with you about the speech-language pathologist position we have.”

When I was in college, which was over 30 years ago, we had to select a track to take in the speech pathology program - the medical track or the education track. I chose the medical route simply because I felt there would be a broader range of opportunities for me. I explained to the ladies that I didn’t have my teaching certificate and wasn’t able to be a speech therapist for the schools to which they promptly corrected me that the rules had changed and that if I had a speech-language pathology license and was certified by the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (both of which pertained to me), that I would be able to provide speech therapy services in the school system.

Friends, I’ll shout out again and again that God is a good God! In less than two weeks after “Going home”, I had a solid job offer making more than I could have at Walmart, CVS or as a secretary.

And you know what else? God even set up my retirement for me. As it turns out, back in 2003, I applied for my substitute teaching license and subbed two days at my kids’ grade school. I put $7.00 into the retirement plan.

Twenty years beforehand, God put me in the position to donate to the teacher retirement system which solidified my retirement for five years earlier than I would have if I had just started in 2022!!! God is just amazing! In 2003, He knew that I would need that in 2022!

And my story isn’t finished. As if that wasn’t enough GOOD I had received (though I know I didn’t deserve it), because I planned and saved all that money, I moved into my little house with no mortgage! God knew that I was going to take a >$35,000/year pay cut and wouldn’t be able to afford a house payment.

After all of that, I tell everyone who will listen about how blessed I am! Yes, I have had to learn how to live simpler, but with that, I have little to no stress on my life. I work on a school schedule, which is great for being a grandma. I have summers off; I have winter and spring breaks; I have holidays. It is the perfect fit for what I need.

Do I miss anything? I can honestly say “no.” I live on a little piece of my mom’s centennial farm - I call my little part Joyful Heart Farm. I have chickens, a big guard dog, two kitties, my two wonderful Chihuahuas and a garden. I get to visit with my mom and stepdad nearly daily. I’ve had the opportunity to teach Sunday School and preach at the little country church a mile down the road for a while.

I’m branching out now to Eyes on the Prize Ministries. I want to share my salt and my light to people in this community. I am focused - motivated - and my eyes are on the prize! I’m excited to see what more God has in store for me to accomplish for Him!

Eyes on the Prize,
Kynda