The Glass IS Half Full
By: Joy Frystak
I admit, I‘m an optimist. My glass is half full, the green on my side is just right (thanks to my husband and his lawn care skills borderline obsession), and I adore the smell of roses. I seek out the positive in every situation I’m presented with and thus far, it has served me well. Here’s my dirty secret, I wasn’t always this way.
Four years ago, my husband lost his job. He was told on a Monday that Friday would be his last day. Our health insurance would be terminated effective that Friday and he would receive one month severance pay. It’s never good timing to lose your job, but when Brian did, it really was bad timing. I was 32 weeks pregnant with our second daughter, we had just built a new house and our first house had not sold yet. Not to mention, it was January. Cold, snowing, dreary January. Brian and I were angry, sad, frustrated, overwhelmed, maybe even bitter. Perhaps it was all my hormones but I cried for an entire week straight. The reoccurring theme in my mind was, “why us?”
The weeks went by and Brian had gone on a few interviews, but nothing had materialized. March 7, 2005 approached and that was the day our second daughter Veronica was born. She was a healthy, beautiful and quiet baby girl. While the nurses were taking her stats, she actually went back to sleep while laying on the scale. The moment I held her, I just knew that everything was going to be alright. All our prays and on some occasions, begging, were going to be heard. Around three o’clock that afternoon, my mother in law came to the hospital and she had papers for us to sign. She was our realtor and we had sold our first house. It was the first weight to be lifted from our shoulders. Brian went home that first night to be with our eldest daughter and decided to look on-line for any new job postings. Low and behold, Liberty Mutual in Wausau, Wisconsin had a position that fit Brian’s exact technology background. He sent his resume. March 14th, Brian received a phone call to come for an interview in Wausau. Brian and I had never heard of Wausau, but none the less, we packed both our girls in the car and drove up here for his interview. The moment I saw the mountain, something told me this was going to be our new home.
You know how the story ends. Brian and I now believe we were supposed to find Wausau and St. Therese. Through that experience, the one thing that never wavered was our faith in God. Despite our anger and frustration, we continued to pray to him to guide us and protect us through such a trying time. With that came my new way of thinking. Instead of doom and gloom, I was going to seek the positive, even if I had to squint, put my glasses on, drag out a magnifying glass, or hire a private investigator to do so.