Survival
I had to have a job other than the temporary office jobs I was working. I caught the flu and quit the receptionist job at an insurance company. When I opened the envelope with the divorce decree, I was sick in bed. I knew life was taking a major turn and the direction it was going wasn’t going to be a smooth ride.
I collected myself and began the search for a teaching job. Mother made it her life’s mission to help me through this. So, when I interviewed for a teaching position in a superior district outside of Houston, I told the interviewer I could handle directing a musical and the UIL One Act play in the spring and that my mother would take care of my kids. However, deep down I knew I couldn’t be a single mother and the director of theatre for a large school district.
Fortunately, Lamar University made it possible for me to take the advanced courses over the summer that I needed to certify to teach English – A synchronicity* that I call divine. Somehow, I made it through taking classes I would never have chosen.
My dear high school drama teacher made it possible for me to interview for a teaching job in Lumberton where I received a job teaching English- another synchronicity.*
That school year I dressed the children before they were completely awake, made my lunch, took them to day care, and met a carpool that drove for 30-minutes to get to work on time. Lance especially resented being in a daycare situation. I hated it for him.
The divorce was finalized in early October. I was drained physically and emotionally.
Answer to Prayer
Prayer became a lifeline for me. One night as I was reading and studying, I simply prayed, “Why isn’t it made clear in scripture what happens after we die?” I don’t know scripture by heart like some do. So when John 14:1-3 came into my mind, I had no idea what that verse was. I looked it up. I got chills when I read, “My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” This came without any other trigger or recollection of this particular passage. The Spirit was real for me in that moment.
*Synchronicity- what happens when seemingly unrelated events coincide in improbable ways that have some sort of significance for you.
Next episode will post in two weeks.
I raised three children as a single mother before I remarried. In 2007 I founded SMORE for Women, a nonprofit whose goal is Single Moms, Overjoyed, Rejuvenated, and Empowered. I’m also a Certified Professional Coach and my stories have been published in several Christian books and magazines. My book, Living Learning Loving is available on Amazon. My Website.
gailshowalterblog.com 