The next years included marriage, a third baby and a life I enjoyed. I returned to church and reading my bible.  And I started asking God to direct my life–not just in the big things, but in the small directions.

Then one Sunday God threw my life for a loop.

I went to church and through the service I kept hearing a nudging in my head.  God’s voice but not really words.  Just a  knowledge that God wanted me to quit my job.

Now let’s back up a bit.  My work defined me.  I was good at what I did. Or at least I thought I was.  Others might disagree.   At times, all the travel could be a bit much, but I was proud of the way I juggled it all.  I mean I even took my baby girl on one trip when no one was at home to watch her.    I didn’t want to resign.

God wanted me to quit.  If I was hearing Him right.  Was I?

Okay, Lord, tell you what.  I will mention it to my hubby.  If he agrees I will resign, if not then I will figure I misunderstood everything.  That was the plan.

I broached the subject with my husband and after thinking for a few minutes he came back with a completely rational response.  Now was not the right time to quit.  He planned to switch jobs in a year and then it would make perfect sense.  Right now we couldn’t afford to lose my pay check.   Wait one year and then leave the company when he left.

Well, there you have it.  Problem solved.  I must have misunderstood the message that seemed so clear.

The next morning my boss stopped by my office to ask me if I had ideas for how to reduce the cost of our department.  Without thinking, I said, “Lay me off”.  He laughed and walked away.  I had to chase him down the hall yelling “I think I’m serious”

This conversation sat in motion my leaving my job with one years salary as severance pay.  That one year ended up stretching into three years, but the pay lasted for the full three years which included paying for a year of college for one kid.

People tell me I left at just the right time.  The company was never really the same.  I don’t know, but I know in hind site God knew where I needed to be.