I met a group of my friends for dinner last night -- two of them are retiring from a company I was downsized from three years ago. One of my friends just reached retirement age. The other is at least six years from there, but took advantage of an early out.
Why are they leaving? They are miserable. They are expected to be available 27/7 and they are not treated with any respect at all from their superiors. While some might think this is an instance of sour grapes -- on their part and mine -- it is not. They are two of a large number of employees there who are bailing out as soon as they can...because of the harsh and inhumane atmosphere.
Though I did not like the way I left my former employer, I realize I am blessed. I work for an outstanding small, family-owned company who treats their employees like family. I have an awesome boss and wonderful coworkers. Am I making the high salary I had at said former company? No - but I am paid well and treated well.
My in-laws sent me this the other day. It couldn't have come at a better time....
Keeper
I grew up with practical
parents. A mother, God love her, who washed aluminum foil after she cooked in
it, then reused it. She was the original recycle queen, before they had a name
for it... A father who was happier getting old shoes fixed than buying new
ones.
Their marriage was good,
their dreams focused. Their best friends lived barely a wave away..
I can see them now, Dad in
trousers, tee shirt and a hat and Mom in a house dress, lawn mower in one hand,
and dish-towel in the other. It was the time for fixing things.. A curtain rod,
the kitchen radio, screen door, the oven door, the hem in a dress. Things we
keep.
It was a way of life, and
sometimes it made me crazy. All that re-fixing, eating, renewing, I wanted just
once to be wasteful. Waste meant affluence. Throwing things away meant you knew
there'd always be more.
But then my mother died, and
on that clear summer's night, in the warmth of the hospital room, I was struck
with the pain of learning that sometimes there isn't any more.
Sometimes, what we care about
most gets all used up and goes away...never to return. So... while we have
it..... it's best we love it.... and care for it... and fix it when it's
broken......... and heal it when it's sick.
This is true for
marriage...... and old cars...... and children with bad report cards..... and
dogs with bad hips.... and aging parents...... and grandparents. We keep them
because they are worth it, because we are worth it.
Some things we keep. Like a
best friend that moved away or a classmate we grew up with.
There are just some things
that make life important, like people we know who are special........ and so,
we keep them close!
I received this from someone
who thinks I am a 'keeper', so I've sent it to the people I think of in the
same way... Now it's your turn to send this to those people that are
"keepers" in your life. Good friends are like stars... You don't
always see them, but you know they are always there. Keep them close!
TEN THINGS GOD WON'T ASK ON
THAT DAY.
1. God won't ask what kind of
car you drove. He'll ask how many people you drove who didn't have
transportation..
2. God won't ask the square
footage of your house, He'll ask how many people you welcomed into your home.
3. God won'task about the
clothes you had in your closet, He'll ask how many you helped to clothe.
4. God won't ask what your
highest salary was. He'll ask if you compromised your character to obtain it.
5. God won't ask what your
job title was. He'll ask if you performed your job to the best of your ability.
6. God won't ask how many
friends you had. He'll ask how many people to whom you were a friend.
7. God won't ask in what
neighbourhood you lived, He'll ask how you treated your neighbors.
8. God won't ask about the
colour of your skin, He'll ask about the content of your character.
9. God won't ask why it took
you so long to seek Salvation. He'll lovingly take you to your mansion in
heaven, and not to the gates of Hell.
10. God won't have to ask how
many people you forwarded this to, He already knows your decision.
