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Happy Wednesday, everyone! My name is John McGrail, I live in Salisbury, NC, it is my opinion that kosher dill pickles are the grossest condiment known to mankind, and I believe that if you’re not learning, you’re not living. Today I’m going to be talking about gratitude for all situations, even the hardest ones.
First off, let me say a huge “thank you” to Darrell for allowing me to guest host today’s episode of SILY. I have listened to every single episode on the day that it has aired—it’s appointment podcasting for me, and I was the contributor for Episode 45’s Friday Forum where I talked about reuniting with my biological family. To have this role alongside Darrell, Mark, Derek, and Mandy—even if it is only for one day—is a true honor.
Today’s fun fact:
Today’s Fun Fact: Honestly, I don’t really care what today is because I am one day away from seeing Star Wars: The Force Awakens! The six year old inside of me sitting in a theatre in 1977 watching the original Star Wars has been awakening for about a year now. Ok, for those not as excited about Star Wars like me, December 16 is National Chocolate Covered anything day. So, if one were to cover those earlier mentioned kosher dill pickles in chocolate that just might change my opinion. But probably not.
Speaking of pickles, the day after I see Star Wars: The Force Awakens is the Friday Forum—your chance to share what you have been learning. You can add your voice to the Friday Forum in several ways—by calling 304-837-2278 and leaving a voicemail, going to our Feedback Page and leaving your feedback by uploading an audio file, using the provided Speakpipe widget, or you can type out an email and send it in that way.
What I learned yesterday.
On July 14 of this year I was let go from my job of the last four years by people that I still count as friends. I have been in the credit union space for more than 25 years and have just as much passion for the movement today as ever. Being displaced is one of the toughest things that I have ever dealt with and as of this past Monday it has been over five months and I am still not in a new position anywhere. I have had two major paths that I have been pursuing over several months come to a very quick end so I am cleaning the slate and pursuing new and all types of things. There are things like health insurance, unemployment payments, upcoming medical bills, the emotional stability of my family, as well as me, and so many other things to think about and juggle. I have been living with hearing voices of condemnation in my head and heart and have felt utterly hopeless at times. And I am thankful for it all.
My wife—who, by the way, is the best wife in the world, she has stood by me in all of the good and bad of this situation and all of our life together with love and support that I can barely describe—so, my wife and I decided somewhere around the first month to start a journal of all of the different ways that we were being taken care of by God. We are a family of Christian faith so that gives us a context for things that occur to us and for us. Please let me share just a few things from that journal with you. The day after I got let go from my job my brother-in-law, knowing that I had the use of a company car with my job and had recently faced his own period of joblessness, offered his vehicle for me to use as long as I need. His father had given him a newer vehicle so he felt the desire to pay it forward to me. It was a huge boost knowing we would not have to find a vehicle to purchase along with everything else that would happen.
Back in October our clothes washer just up and died. Literally, working one day and totally fritzed the next. We have four children so our washer gets used. a. lot. Not knowing what might be wrong I tried to take it apart and, also not being mechanically minded I didn’t get very far. We decided to reach out to a couple of people we know who are more “handy” than us so my wife mentioned that we were looking for help at School where she teaches. Someone nearby the conversation-who happened to be a plumber-upon hearing the situation asked her what her address was. He had a (newer) used washer that he could bring to our home that afternoon. No questions, no money asked for—he told me that someday he might be in my situation and he could tell just from meeting me that I would do the same thing.
Then, with Christmas coming up next week we had already had the discussion with the kids that this year would be looking very different and scaled back from usual. They truly got it and they have been overall very selfless and understanding of the turmoil going on around them. Out of the blue we have long-time friends who emailed us 500 amazon dollars with a simple wish to bless our kids for Christmas. I had a friend at church reach out to shake my hand and place several hundred dollar bills in it as he walked away smiling. There have been so many more outpourings of support-dollars, kind words, passing along resumes and setting up meetings, job counseling and just listening to me while I try to explain all of the things running through my head and heart.
Here’s what I learned.
I am not deserving of such kindness. I have been on the other side writing the $500 check to the family who is down and out. I have always been the one who has been blessed to be generous. Receiving the kinds of gifts that I have described to you here is more than overwhelming; it is humbling down to my very soul. I dare say no one likes to be the one in need and everyone know it. We as a community have been raising support for one of the GSM hosts Karen and her husband to help meet major medical costs. I don’t know Karen but I know how she feels in this regard—to be the recipient of such generosity is truly remarkable. I said earlier that I was happy for this time and it’s absolutely true. I have been able to be the recipient of these types of kindness and generosity. I have been humbled in the best ways. I am able to testify about the kindness of others in times of need. I have had more time with my children and friends. I have been able to volunteer and still give back to my church and community.
This is the time of year where we look for miracles. I have found mine almost daily since July 14. God has shown me and my family incredible faithfulness through so many people—like this podcast. There have been times when my wife catches me listening to some podcast or other and she has rightly challenged me that I can’t stop, be still, and listen for God to speak about the next step if I’m always got something playing in the background. She’s absolutely right and one day very soon I am going to have to face the silence that now gets too easily flooded with those accusing voices telling me I don’t have what it takes or some other nonsense. But today, there are so many of you that have built this SILY community to be the safe and encouraging place that it is, that when Darrell asked for someone to fill in today I knew that it had to be me. Thank you for being part of my Christmas miracle. I look forward to coming back someday and updating everyone on how this part of the story turned out!
I’m John McGrail, and this has been stuff I learned yesterday.
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