“Be anxious for nothing” when I have been anxious for everything.

Remember when Jesus gave me a once-in-a-lifetime story where He miraculously provided a teacher assistant job for me and then in a proper “only God” way, ended up being the assistant for my friend?

Who would have thought it would have happened twice?!?

The last few blog posts I’ve written are about sudden anxiety. Over the summer, I found out my teacher friend and me would not be working together as planned because she was going to another school. I was bummed, but God knew ahead of time, and life carries on. I am extremely happy for her in her new school as it’s what she had been waiting for and is a better fit for taking care of her family. I had not planned on leaving the school I was at, but also did not want to be miserable this year, asking God why and have Him say, “I sent eight people telling you to leave”. I applied at another school, interviewed but did not get it. With my waiting to find out, I took my stress to the thrift store and bought all kinds of new professional clothes JUST IN CASE. (Lockdowns had a benefit because everyone was cleaning out their houses.)

I did not get that job. “What was that?”

As everyone knows, I have two jobs, and one is working with my buddy Brent. If you read this blog or know me in real life, you automatically know who Brent is and that he is so special. If you don’t, he is a guy with down’s syndrome that I’ve known for 6-7 years and have had the pleasure of being his PCA (personal care attendant) for almost a full two. I had the summer off from school but remained with him in the afternoons. I have prepared myself for what I am about to write and that going back to school with the new Covid surge has his mom scared and considering not working with him. I had already prepared myself for this and waited for her to say it, so I calmly told her I understood. I did not want her to be more upset with the choice she had to make for her family, and especially did not want her to see me upset.

However, the reality of the situation manifested as soon as I got in my car. After leaving their house, I called my dad in hysterics. I wept so loud you would have thought someone died. I cannot explain how unique their family is to me, as God provided them at a critical time in my life. While Brent does not understand, he was there for me during some rough seasons and remained the sunshine through the dark clouds. His family became my family, and I felt as though I was losing them. I know I will not work with Brent forever, and I know I would still see him, but the realization of its ending was so hard, and I cried all evening.

To add to the stress, not only was I losing my family, but I was losing my second job. I immediately started trying to figure out what I would do or where I would work. I knew I should not worry because God took care of me with the teacher assistant job, and somehow, He would make a way.

I texted David from Ruston, who mentioned that when God removes something, He replaces it with something better. I know that is true, but I also kept thinking that there is no way it could get better than Brent. I know I’m not God, but my tiny brain can’t fathom anything being better.

As far as Brent’s mom knew, I was ok and after talking about Covid and the news that afternoon, I texted her that scripture from Philippians:
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” – Philippians 4

All of this went down on Tuesday. Wednesday morning, I woke up early to get ready for school. The kids are not in school yet, but it’s prep time and meetings. At 7:30, Brent’s sister-in-law, who works in the school system called. She does not call often, or ever, and I answered the phone in a curious and concerned “Hello?”

She told me to leave school early and go to another school to meet at 2:30 that afternoon. I was simultaneously confused, shocked, and appalled at the sudden demand. However, I did not mention a word of the night before to anyone and doubted with the time that Brent’s mom had not talked to her either. (I later asked and they did NOT talk to each other). Knowing for myself what happened the night before and my prayer started crying and said, “I’m so stressed out”. She is one of the most wonderful people in the world and calmly kept telling me it would be ok and to go to this interview. I responded, “I can’t do that?” because I do not like taking off or leaving work without notice.
“Yes, you can.”

We hung up and she called right back saying the girl could not meet in the afternoon and that I was to call in and say I could not go to work today and meet her at a school for 11 AM. Now, she was pushing it. There was no way I could do that. I’ve never suddenly called in to work and especially to do something like that.

Me sniffling to her: “My new life plan is to marry for money.”
Her: “You know better than that. That is NOT God’s plan, and you know that. You just said, “my plan” and that is not God’s plan.

I was only kidding, but I guess God wanted to cut off any growing thought on marrying for money. “Don’t even think about it”.

In the sudden tornado and confusion of my life, she said, “He will provide all our needs”. She did not know that bible verse had been in my head on a loop for two weeks. I knew this conversation was God providing an opportunity for me, but I struggled because I already had a job and did not want to be a quitter. I am a big planner, and this was too much change happening for me so fast. I heard a sermon where Charles Stanley said God told him to quit his job suddenly, and I could never understand how to be that bold.

“I can’t do that.”
“Yes you can, Aimee. Kids aren’t in school yet, and there is no reason you are NEEDED today.”
“Well, we did have a retreat today?”
“You’re not going to work today. You do not need to go to that retreat today. You’re not even Catholic, Aimee. There is nothing you would get out of that retreat.”
“I mean, this is one way God would get me out of the retreat?? I can’t do it.”
“Yes you can, and you’ll meet me at the school for 11 AM.”

I don’t know what came over me, but I trusted her. She is one of the most professional people I know and not urge someone to call in sick. She must have confidence in this interview??

We hung up and gave it a few minutes. She texted asking me how much I currently made and responded with the salary of this new job.

Not only was it more money, but it would make up for losing my second job. I do not condone this behavior and would never make it a habit. However, I could not risk being without my second job and could not pass up this opportunity. God was answering my prayer so fast and so loudly, it would have been stupid for me not to take it. On the flip side of this story is hers, where she had a sudden resignation and needed a position filled. What an honor it is to be thought of to take it!

I did what I’ve never done and called in. I went to the interview, applied, and quit my job all in a matter of a few hours.
It all happened so fast, and that’s not even the best part.

On the way to the interview, one of the teachers at my other school texted me asking where I was and that she wished I was there because it was her last day. She would not be returning.

At the end of the new school interview with Brent’s sister-in-law and my new boss, they asked if it was terrible that they were taking two teachers from my school. I asked who the other teacher was, and it was my coworker across the hall resigned that morning. Not only did she get hired at my new school, but we are working together in a new program they started in the infant room. It’s been two days of chaos and mass information, but faithful is He who calls you who will do it.
Life with God is never dull. I never thought my teacher assistant job story could be topped, but God. Jesus stories are always the best.

Neither of us knew the other’s plan of leaving the school. I texted that I would see her tomorrow, and she called so confused and then started laughing. It appears as if we conspired it, when we had no clue but God orchestrated it.

It is my new favorite thing. I debated the last few days of writing about it because I am not proud of the no-show behavior and leaving the others in a bind. However, God provided for me, and I could not have made up this story, dreamed up this story, or written a better one.

Within a few minutes of the interview crisis phone call, one of my close friends randomly texted, “God’s got to move things around for different seasons.” It doesn’t get much clearer than that.

We had to provide a photo and a bio to send to the parents.
“Ms. Aimee was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana.
There, she has been investing in the lives of others as a caregiver all of her life. She has sharpened her customer service skills for the last seven years on the Best Bank.
The most life-changing experience she holds dearly is as a personal care attendant for a gentleman with special needs. She has also worked as a pre-K assistant and is excited for the opportunity to work at(school name) in the infant room.
Ms. Aimee also enjoys baking, gardening, traveling, and renovating old furniture.”