I have had lots of different jobs. 

My first job was editing orders for book spine labels and catalog cards, those cards that went inside the book pocket. (Does anybody out there remember searching for books in the card catalog and then checking out the book via the card in the book?)

I was paid a whopping $2.01 per hour to make sure the orders for these items were spelled right, with the right author. Eventually I moved up within the company and became a computer operator. I ran the computers and printed the labels, catalog cards and book cards. It was thrilling to be promoted and to make the actual products.

My next job was that of a mother. I do believe that motherhood is a job that shapes the future. In this role, I did nail what I thought to be the number one priority as a mother: telling my kids about the Bible, Jesus, God and the Holy Spirit. I am glad I had children, and I am glad I now have young adults who are mighty fine people, thank you very much!

When our children were six and three, my husband and I packed up the family and moved to South America to work for Habitat for Humanity International. Our project was a brand new project that existed only on paper. As such, it was our job to form committees that would manage the money from Habitat, purchase house-building materials, and select which families would help each other build homes. In addition to these duties, we were also missionaries who told families that God’s love brought these homes into their lives. During our time there, we helped 100 families build 100 homes. I will always treasure the experience of working together with those families.

After four years in South America, we returned to the USA.  My husband is a North Dakota boy, and so we moved to North Dakota. I found employment as a secretary, and my husband stayed home with the children. Eventually he found a job, and the children then went to after-school daycare. It didn’t take too long until they let us know that daycare was not for them! Right before summer, I discovered that being a secretary was not for me either. I quit my job, and the children and I had a lovely summer together.

When school started back up in the fall, I managed to snag a job as an English as a Second Language teacher aide. The hours were perfect, because I was able to be home when the children were home. It also felt good to be working with children whose families were not American. I could identify with how it felt to live, shop, cook and take your children to school in a foreign country.

One day I mentioned to my daughter what a shame it was that parents from other countries did not know their rights, such as their right to have a translator at parent/teacher meetings. My daughter said it was too bad that someone who spoke Spanish was not there to help them. I don’t know how many times she said that until I realized that she meant I should help them! I do speak Spanish, but these parents needed a social worker to advocate for them.

Thus began my next adventure. At the ripe old age of let’s not say, I went to college for the first time. First I went part time, and then God blessed me with the opportunity to go full time. I kept on going until I earned a Master’s Degree in Social Work in 2005.

I prayed that God would use me as His social worker, but it turned out that He wanted me to work as a case manager at a halfway house, a caregiver with Visiting Angels, and then a teacher aide again. None of these positions required a degree in Social Work, however.

Despite this, every two years I earned 30 Continuing Education Units and renewed my Social Work license. I did this for ten years, the point where I didn’t see much point in renewing it again. But a very good friend of mine said, “Renew it just one more time.” So I did.

Toward the end of this past summer, I was feeling mighty low. I had been informed that I would be re-hired as a teacher aide, but at fewer hours. I thought over my past year as an aide, and I recalled quite a few difficult times and very few good times.

I sighed several sighs. My son picked up on my mood and its cause. He looked at me and said, “Say it.” I was a bit startled and said, “Say what?” He responded, “Go ahead and say you don’t want to go back to the teacher aide job.” 

In a teeny, tiny voice I said, “I don’t want to go back.” And, mercy, I felt so much better! I was so grateful to God for reaching out to me through my son.

So there I was, looking for a new job. My daughter encouraged me to try for a job that would use my Social Work degree. The very next day I saw a position that required a Master’s Degree in Social Work. I sent off a cover letter and a resume. One week later I was hired.

As of today, I have completed just over one month of working with an organization that helps the elderly stay in their homes. I have the honor and pleasure of helping people who need my help. My co-workers are committed and kind. And, by the way, I am receiving the biggest paycheck I’ve ever had. 

God is so faithful, kind and good. He has made my life so very rich in so very many ways.

"I will tell of the LORD's unfailing love. I will praise the LORD for all he has done." (Isaiah 63:7)

Have you ever felt that you are not using your skills and credentials, even though you really want to? How have you seen God bring you to a place you couldn’t see yourself?

Susan Jacobson resides in Bismarck ND. There is only so much Spider Solitaire a woman can play before thinking, "Hmm, what else can I do before I die?" From this arose her interest in blogging as a way to share with other women and praise God. Read more JOY posts by Susan.