I found out yesterday that my finacee had been ‘downsized’ from her company. She and four others were given severance until the end of next month, but asked to not report for work today. Now I feel a lot of things in reaction to this news, but they’re coming all at once. Bear with me as I sort it out.

Honestly, my first reaction was this is a way for us to get more money for the wedding. I mean, she is getting a check for another six weeks. Add that to another check from a new job, and WAHOO!! We get to start our new life together not broke.

After that, things became a little muddy. I am a little upset at the company. These guys used to handle money for a living before taking over this company, but it seems that they spent money based on money hoped for, instead of money ‘in hand’. Capital expenditures, for example personnel, have to come from money actually coming in. Layoffs come from consecutive, moderate to heavy loss quarters, not from not getting money that you ‘hoped’ to get from non-existant sales. My company needs two additional part-time employees, one to install the computers and another to help with their construction. However, we have no income. Therefore, I am not going to hire them, I’d only have to let them go two months later and then I’d no money to buy parts.

Note : references to severance are according to the dictionary definition, not the ICC definition. For those that may not know, ministers that resign in the ICC get severance pay if they QUIT. This isn’t the resign so that we don’t have to fire you kind of resign (although those happen). This is (until recently) one month’s pay for every year worked usually paid in one lump sum for resigning.

As far as Laryssa’s layoff is concerned, I also feel like it is a good opportunity for her to make all kinds of plans and details for our wedding without feeling guilty about doing them at work. A lot has happened pretty quickly and a break may do her some good.

I am also quite happy about the offer of wedding help from someone who is not only really good at planning, but also is almost demanding that she be given a task. This person offered without knowing Laryssa was laid off. This person has also said, “this isn’t the kind of offer made to sound nice, I really want something to do.” So, she’s doing our invitations, right now.

I just know that it weighs heavy on her mind, so I pray that the God of all comfort can comfort her today. I also hope that she enjoys a good sleep, I know she’s tired.

Other than that, I am not having a good day at all. I’m upset at having another major issue to deal with in the middle of two other major issues. It’s an unwelcome change and it will take me a bit to work through it. I believe that God will work something great through this time; I just want to see it a bit more clearly. For that reason, I pray for faith.