Yesterday marks the end of a very long and significant chapter in my life. 17 years ago Tony and I moved into our first condo, a fully furnished rental, just us and our little one-year-old baby, Hailey June. Tony had a great job as a consultant in San Francisco but I left my job in public relations in the city to be home with Hailey. I really wanted to help contribute in some way. I wanted to work from home, but how do you find a job where you can work from home? It was harder than it seemed and I began to pray that God would provide.
One day I was home during Hailey’s nap when the phone rang. “Hi, this is Linda, you don’t know me but I go to your church and someone referred me to you, saying that you would be a great fit for the job I’m trying to fill.” What?! Oh, and it gets better. “I work for a non profit organization called Teen Esteem, which exists to equip, educate and empower teens and adolescents in areas of high risk behaviors.”
Ummm… Not only did God answer my prayer to provide me a job where I could work from home, but He gave me a job that I have a heart for. I am passionate about helping kids make wise choices, avoiding regret and knowing that when they make a mistake, because they will, they can always make a change and have a second chance.
So, I started off in an administrative role. A few years later I was asked to step into the presentation coordinator position and I’ve been the liaison between schools, teachers and speakers for many years. I’ve helped lead and train speakers, develop and edit curriculum for classroom, assemblies and parent education.
As I’ve shared before, I have known since I was 22 that God wanted me to speak and to share my story. However, the years I was raising my babies, I knew that they were my priority and my focus. So when a local principal told me that she wanted ME to prepare and present at her schools’ parent education event, I was a little sick to my stomach. Me? Ummm… I’m not sure about that. But, indeed, God gave me the words and developed a rich curriculum to benefit parents in regards to students and technology called “Hands on help for today’s digital family.” Since then, I’ve presented that talk several times and have also developed and presented “How to talk to your kids about sex.”
Yesterday we celebrated another successful year for Teen Esteem in our community and was surprised by a huge bouquet of roses, a memory book filled with photos from the last 17 years and letters from speakers, staff and board members. Afterwards, many loving people I’ve had the chance to work with over the years spoke affirmation, encouragement and uplifting words and I sat there in awe that they could possibly be speaking about me. It was one of those very unique moments in life where you know that you were doing just as God had called you to do and you got to leave a lasting impact.
All of this, in response to a simple but fervent prayer 17 years ago.
So, the most popular question of the day was, “What will you do with all your spare time?” Haha. Well, I will continue to speak for Teen Esteem for Parent Education, and as you know, God has opened up yet another opportunity for me to work from home through Beachbody. I also continue to feel called to speak and share my story to women’s groups and to teens, which I will do privately.
So, I’m not sure how much “spare time” I will have, but my priority continues to be my family. Hailey will be entering her Senior year and we will be facing the daunting task of college applications. Noah will be entering his Freshman year at public school and I will need to keep my eye on him. And we are still unsure of what the fall holds for my 7-year-old Charlotte, but wherever the Lord leads, she still needs and wants her mama around.
What a lesson this has all been in faith, trust and prayer.
