And so it goes. I wrote THIS POST back in October. At the time, I was really, really missing my writing time. As a wife/mom/teacher/yearbook adviser, I had none. Zero. I could barely keep my house clean. And all I wanted, as much as I loved my students, was to do what I knew God was calling me to do. Be a wife. Be a mom. Write. But God and I had a deal, and the deal was when it was time for me to walk away from teaching, it would be my husband’s idea.
And that just wasn’t going to happen any time soon.
Except it did. Less than two weeks after THAT POST, we were talking after work and he said out of nowhere, “I think it’s time for you to go back to full time writing.” I was floored. Scared. Shocked. And I spent three months in prayer, sometimes on my face, torn between my two loves of teaching and writing. I taught one year when God told me not to, and it was awful. I didn’t want to make that mistake again, with writing or with teaching.
So he sent me three big messages I couldn’t ignore. One of my administrators—who had no clue what was going on in my life—told me out of the blue one day that I was focused way too much on everything but writing. My childhood pastor came to our church and, as we were leaving, he took me by the hand and said, “If you ever get the chance to leave teaching and write full time, you should take it.” He said it twice and with no idea what God was saying to me.
And then… Oh, and then. I went to my principal to tell her. We call her “Mama,” and I knew Mama was not going to be happy with me leaving. I was kind of hoping to fly to the moon and send her an email, but God made it very clear one Friday morning that I had to tell her that day. She sat back, looked at me and said, “Remember how you got your job?”
“Your English teacher resigned the same day my resume’ landed on your desk.”
She nodded. “Last night, I got an email from a teacher I’ve always wanted to hire, but who I never thought would leave where she is now. I was sad I had no place for her. She’s an English teacher. And that’s the only reason I’m not freaking out right now.” God had provided my replacement, the perfect choice. I’ve met her and I can say that. My “babies” will be safe and happy in her hands.
So here it is, publicly. Jodie Bailey is now a wife who can keep her house clean. A mom who’s available to do homework with her kiddo. And a writer, sitting in front of her computer, waiting to see what God is going to do next.
-JB
Jessica R. Patch says
I do love when God confirms over and over what we really know deep down. He’s so amazing and tender and intimate that way. So excited for you, Jodie! I know God’s got big and wonderful plans for you and your ministry. Many blessings! Praying for you, friend. Which reminds me, I owe you some questions! lol
Jodie says
And he knows when we need to get hit in the head with a baseball bat in order to see what He is saying… 🙂