Oh, Did I Forget To Tell You He Quit???

Darling Deuce & Hot Husband. Love him entirely. (and P.S. my hair looks awesome here)

Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?

Matthew 6:26    

    So it occurred to me today while writing my last post, that there is in fact something big going on with my family that I haven't made public in this venue yet. And my true heart of this blog is to share everything on my heart with you, the good, the bad, and the ugly.  Here goes.
   So awesome hot husband quit his job! Yep! It's been 6 weeks now. We didn't like make a public announcement or anything, but I did realize today that I am still shocking people with this news that I accept now as common knowledge.

Deuceman & Daddy

The Story
   If you have ever spent any time with Michael, you know that he is so very gifted in many ways. He is the most business and people savvy person I have ever met. He just has this sixth sense almost in regards to people. Two months before he graduated from college, way back on 2004, he was recruited by a transportation brokerage to come and work in sales. He went straight to work.  He always knew he had a future in sales, but I don't think he knew he would rise to the top so quickly and I'm pretty sure he wasn't aware it would involve trucks and flatbeds.

He's what I like to call a "figure it out" kinda guy. They threw him in making calls and he immediately starting breaking records and growing his business. Within 6 years they made him the youngest sales manager in company history at the age of 28. So long story short, after that, he started suffering from some burnout. He was spending all his heart, time, and effort at work. He was making great money, but one thing I love about my husband, is that it's not all about the money for him.

He's got the whole Jerry McGuire thing going on. He is more worried about the heartbeat and pulse of the organization and its members. His passion lies within training, teaching, and mentoring. And because he possesses such fabulous communication skills, he is excellent at this.

About two years ago, we prayed and prayed and prayed some more and we both had confirmation that he was to go to his boss and resign the company. The way his company was designed, there was no room to grow vertically from where he was. There was nothing he could do besides just make more money. So in December in 2011, he walked in to his office, shared his desires with his boss and CEO and quit. Much to our surprise, his boss basically counter offered him and told him he could create the position he wished to have as long as he would stay.

That was 18 months ago. In that 18 months, Michael trained, recruited, mentored, coached, and tried his hardest to change the heart and core values of his company. After 18 months of faithfully being obedient, we prayed and both agreed that it was time to go.  We have been praying about this off and on over those 18 months. It was not out of the blue (for us) and it's something we felt completely at peace about.  So just like that, on June 17th, he sent in a letter of final resignation, had a meeting with his owners the next morning, then was home by lunch, missing a heavy weight from his chest and ready to start the next chapter of our lives.

Lincster & Daddy

    So why did he go, you ask? The easiest and best way to describe it was that he had done all he could do and put in everything he could. At the young age of 31, he had topped out as high as he could climb at that organization. At 31 he is in his working prime still and so capable of so much more on the horizon. And at 31, he was facing what looked like a way-too-early mid life crisis. Way too early for burnout, we decided. It was time for rest.
 
    It's funny. As the wife, I didn't expect the jaw dropping reactions to this when I have shared the news with girlfriends, acquaintances, etc.  They all get wide eyed and the first thing they ask is "What is he gonna do?" and the next thing is "Are you guys okay?" And by okay, they are asking it one of two ways. 1. Are you going to be financially okay? 2. Are you okay in your marriage about this. And my answer to both of those questions is Yes and Yes.

Call me crazy and call me naive, but I do believe God will be faithful to his promises in all areas.  We have been faithful to tithe our earnings and faithful to save a stash for if they this day came. As for our marriage, it's been a learning experience for all of us. For me, it's been learning how to go on about my business as his wife and the mommy of these boys, regardless of what is thrown in our path of sanctification. For him, it's learning actually how and what rest looks like and how to have time to take care of his own spiritual and emotional needs so he can better lead our family to love and serve God first.
 

Knoximus & Daddy

    I referenced Matthew 6:26 above. Separately, the Lord gave us each this verse in regards to praying to about Michael leaving his job. Over and over again in the Bible, our God promises rest, provision, and hope. We know that God is so much bigger than his job, our family, and anything else here that is temporary. We are here for more. There is a bigger kingdom we serve and it has no end. It is because of Jesus work on the cross that we do not have to live suffering to keep up with stuff, titles, and egos. Rather we live here on mission glorifying God to be a part of the restoration of all things, and to steward our time, talent and treasure well. And that promise is worth more than any paycheck, title, or status. We are not to worry. We are to believe and trust in Him. Nothing is a surprise for our big God.

   As for the "What's he going to do" question, we are still not exactly sure the next vocational path for our family. Like I mentioned earlier, Michael is extremely gifted at what he does, and so he already has potential things in the kindling fire. Who knows where God will take us. It's actually kind of fun not knowing and not having it all figured out.
 
    So that was 6 weeks ago that he quit. We are still learning everyday. We are learning about faith and what it truly looks like to 'live on faith'. It's amazing to feel so protected and blessed by our Father above.  Whatever you may be going through, whatever you need release from, know that God has it. Know that He knew it all before it ever started and He will never fail to show up.
 
A few more verses we are living by....

Hebrews 13:5-- Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Jeremiah 29:11-- For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Matthew 11:28-- Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

2 Cor 9:8-11-- And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. As it is written, “He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.

Romans 11:29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

Dj Lance, Jace from Duck Dynasty, & The Mad Hatter