Worry Triggers

My mother-in-law, my sister-in-law, and I were talking today, and my mother-in-law brought up that my father-in-law is so worried about all his kids that he can't sleep at night. He's stressed out because none of his kids have followed the pattern that was common in previous generations of picking a niche career and following it, working for the same company and ensuring a future.

We discussed how that isn't really the way the world works, these days. I don't know anyone who has graduated in the last decade who has worked for one company and is planning on staying with that company until they retire (I'm sure they're out there, I just don't know them).

Ryan's dad is worried about his kids who are joining the military (so far, 2 in the army and Ryan in the Air Force--another is considering army). He frequently reminds us that the military "owns" us now, and that we shouldn't count on anything, or, apparently, hope for anything, because they'll take everything they can get and mess up our lives any way they can.

Okay, I know that happens sometimes. But I also know people in the military who love it, and in this economy I'm grateful that we're going to have a job, insurance, and someone paying for our food and housing. Not only that, I'm looking forward to the possibility of being stationed overseas. Also, I don't buy my father-in-law's attitude of "You've sold your life to them forever," because my husband signed a 6 yr contract, and if we want out, we can get out then. And if we like it, we'll stay.

I honestly haven't been worrying about my husband's career and the future stability of our family. We've prayed hard about this, and we feel that Ryan is going the right direction, and I trust the Lord to take care of the details. These things haven't been a concern for me.

But as we talked about it today, and my mother-in-law expressed her and Dad's fears of insecurity for their children, I began to worry. What if we're wrong? What if the military's not the right choice? What if we end up with no job, no way to take care of our family?

That's when I realized that I'm more of a short-term worrier. If someone else brings up the long-term worries, then maybe they'll bother me, but I'm much more likely to be stressed out by short-term things.

Like living in my in-laws' basement for another two months. That one has me stressed.

But as I thought more about the future issues, I decided they're not worth worrying about right now, which is why I haven't bothered. I really do believe and feel that things will work out, and that as long as we're working hard and doing our best, we'll be taken care of. We may not have everything we'd like, but we'll get by, and that's good enough for me.

I don't know what being an Air Force wife will be like, but after the last few months, I'll just be happy to have a steady income again. So I'm going to choose to be hopeful. We've made our decision, and I think it will be good for us. I even think there will be things I love.