As I may have mentioned a time or twelve, I have much angst about my career path. I’ve had several jobs since graduating from college, all of which started as my dream job and ended as…well, something else entirely. I’ve also talked about money and how we just never have enough of it.But what I haven’t shared with you is how my husband is an incredibly hard worker, and how he’s been blessed with a great job.
The story is a long, winding one, but the short version is this: I pushed Mark about finishing college for several years, afraid that he would waste his potential and end up as a truck driver, like his dad. And then Mark realized that he enjoys driving and wanted to be a truck driver.
Of all things!
So, a few years ago, he embarked on a determined journey to become a truck driver. He worked long, hard hours at FedEx Ground, driving and delivering in snow, sleet and ice, working through injury and illness – all for not much pay. He then jumped through a lot of hoops to move from that job to a job at FedEx Freight (yes, it’s a separate company), spending time, money and hope on his belief that working there would be good for him and good for our family. Finally, three years after first applying to work there and just a few months before I got pregnant, he was hired part-time. The bad news was that he was working two jobs for most of my pregnancy. The good news is that he eventually moved to working full-time at Freight, earning shorter hours, a better salary and better benefits.
And even though he doesn’t get to drive as much as wants yet, and sometimes he gets an old forklift to use on the dock, and his hours keep him away from his loving wife – Mark loves his job. He’s doing what he wants to do and being rewarded for it.
I love – and am so thankful – that one of us has an angst-free career. And more importantly, I’m so very thankful that Mark is a hard worker who provides for his family.
This hasn’t changed how I feel about driving a truck and unused potential. I won’t be surprised at all if God has something else for Mark later down the road. (Ha! “Road” – no pun intended, but ha!) And I still cry buckets when I hear Alabama sing, “Roll On,” the song about a truck driver who gets stranded in a snow storm. But for now, I am thankful that God has provided this job for Mark. And I’m thankful that Mark does it.
If you weren’t doing the job you currently have, what kind of job would you like to have?
