Another Big Step
On this date eight years ago, my family and I were homeless. Today, we just finished closing on the purchase of a home.
On this date eight years ago, my family and I were homeless. Today, we just finished closing on the purchase of a home.
That’s quite a bit for me to take in at one fell swoop. As I sit here contemplating all that has happened during that eight-year period, I’m awed and humbled. So many people and events came and went that were all part of getting me here. How can I thank them all? How does a mere “thank you” express what I feel?
Life is Hard
No doubt, you have already learned this great lesson: life is hard. Here are some more, while I’m making a list:
- Nothing worth having comes easy.
- There are no guarantees in life, except for death.
- People will disappoint you.
- People will destroy you if you let them.
- People do not care about you.
- Some people defy those lessons above and choose to help and care for you.
If you’ve read my story before, you know that a previous career serving others imploded and left my wife and I, and five children, homeless and 500 miles from any family that could take us in. We literally lost everything. We watched a wrecker haul away our family vehicle. We packed our belongings into a metal crate in the hot summer sun alone, while people we had served drove by and watched. We barely had enough money to travel home to family.
After six of us moved into a 3-bedroom, 2-bath home with my parents (one child remained in West TN for a period of time due to work obligations), I had to pick up the pieces and start over at age 43. My old career destroyed me, and destroyed my desire to ever deal with people ever again. My family was damaged, too; and that damage is still evident.
With some experience in writing, I began seeking online opportunities while working as a substitute teacher. I was…
