Blessings in Disguise: More Stories

Disappointment Became Blessing

During my last year of college, training to become a teacher, I experienced a disappointment that I later realized was actually a blessing.

Since I was about to receive my teacher’s certificate, I applied to two schools that were close to where I lived. One school was much larger than the other, and I was really hoping to get hired at the larger school.

I went for a job interview at the larger school on a Friday. The following morning, I got a phone call from the school and was offered the job, so, of course, I accepted. That being the case, I decided not to even go to the interview, which was scheduled for Monday afternoon, at the smaller school. Instead, I planned to call the smaller school Monday morning and tell them I had accepted a position with another school.

However, before I had a chance to call the smaller school Monday morning, I received a phone call from the larger school’s superintendent, who explained that the teacher who had been planning to quit had changed her mind, and, therefore, there was no teaching position for me. I was upset, but at least I hadn’t called the other school and cancelled the interview. So, that afternoon, I went to the job interview at the smaller school. I was offered the job, and I happily accepted.

The next fall, I moved to the nearby town where the school was located and began my teaching career. I taught there for many, many years, and loved every minute of it. I had wonderful students and great parents, and the teachers I worked with were super.

I may have been just as happy teaching at that larger school, but I’m really glad I got hired by the smaller school. I have fond memories of my first teaching job.

Donna – Red Oak, Iowa

Shattered Dream Brought New One

While growing up, most of my friends dreamed of being a teacher, a nurse or a stewardess. I simply dreamed of being a mom. That’s all I wanted.

In 1969, I married a soldier, and we moved from Nebraska to Fort Hood, Texas. I was a 20-year-old newlywed away from home for the first time, and as we settled into a small apartment, I continued dreaming of becoming a mom. However, six months into our marriage, I began having terrible abdominal pain. Doctor visits led to being admitted to the hospital, where surgery was needed. When I awoke, the doctor explained the surgery and said it went well. His next words shattered my world. The surgery he’d had to perform meant I would never be able to have children.

The one dream I had carried in my heart and in my mind for all those years was destroyed. I went down a dark tunnel of emotional crisis. I thought God didn’t like me for some reason. I tried to think of what I could have possibly done that could have been so bad that God would take away my one dream. I cried until there were no tears left to cry.

Months after my surgery, I had a revelation from God. He wanted me to be a mom, but He had something in mind for me that I’d never thought of. He put in my heart that there are thousands of babies who need mommies, and suddenly, I knew that my husband and I were supposed to adopt. My husband agreed that it was definitely an option we should look into. However, we had no idea what was involved in adoption. We thought it would be like the shows on TV, where you call an agency, and in no time, they bring you a baby. Were we in for a shock!