I used to hate being the low man, a private in the Marines. Now a stay-at-home Dad? What? This is crazy. I have a master’s degree in business, I oversaw 15 Marines and a $50 million radar system. I managed a mid-Atlantic operation with 20-plus agents. Surely there is another way. I didn’t do all that work to play hide and seek all day!
Stay at home dad? Really? “Yes. Really,” I heard the Lord whisper.
Upon making Jesus Lord and Savior, a collage of anticipation, anxiety, excitement, and enthusiasm captivated my soul. I started my walk of faith with all the excitement of anyone starting a new job—better yet, it reminded me of being a new Marine at my first duty station.
As a radar repairman, we are typically referred to as the “smart” Marines. To the other service branches that is the world’s biggest oxymoron. But we are known as those who get the job done. No matter how hard, dirty, or bloody. We win.
After a year and a half of being taught how to be a Marine, a basic Rifleman, and a Radar Repairman, I got my first duty assignment. Now I was trained and ready!
Like a new believer in the Christian faith, I was full of delight and motivation to contribute to the mission! I had purpose. After checking in as permanent personnel on station, I immediately began my first task.
Cleaning. Yes, cleaning.
“New Marines on station do not even think about touching my radar, or they’ll find themselves with this socket wrench in an unwanted place,” the Crew Chief so eloquently explained.
Recruiters never mention that most Marines—even the “smart” ones—spend their first year on station cleaning. We clean everything from our eyelids to the underside of the toilet bowl. Some even use the same rag! Hopefully not, but one may wonder. We even rake sand. “Area beautification,” not punishment, the Gunnery Sergeant calls it.
This assignment was not what I signed up for—but I did it!
Fast forward. I fixed radars for five years, went to night school, then Honorably Discharged with an MBA, a wife and two kids. I found my faith and dropped a few other bad habits.
Now—no job. Stay at home Dad? Cleaning the house? Washing clothes? Dishes? Bus stops and bathroom breaks? This was not what I thought I signed up for!
Again, I felt God respond, “I recruited a Marine into my family for a specific purpose; it is a special ministry, just for you. You are part of my Kingdom Special Forces, Jerry. And the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. We win. But you’ve got to learn how to lead. My way first. In my Kingdom we fight for the highest possible good of those we lead. And your family is your first ministry.”
That was just over a decade ago, a blink of an eye. As a faith-driven entrepreneur in America’s largest mission field, the marketplace, God has blessed me with an ability to consult for CEO’s and business owners. Influence the influencers. Sounds like Kingdom Special Forces work to me.
Let’s be real. What minutiae has you whining instead of winning? Has God trusted you with something too simple for your status? What blessing is in this preparation?
Walk in gratitude as His Kingdom Special Forces!
Question: What menial job have you done that you now realize God orchestrated as training for future ministry?
About Jerry Howard
Jerry Howard is a Christian executive mentor, author, and speaker who owns multiple businesses. A veteran of the United States Marine Corps, he is the founder and guiding force behind iNTREPiD iMPACT Team, a faith driven leadership and business consulting agency. Jerry loves being a part of God’s Special Forces by bringing faith to the marketplace, the nation’s largest mission field. For more information and to connect with Jerry, go to www.JerryHowardInternational.com.
Great post Jerry. Thanks for sharing what a huge difference a shift in mindset can make.
Thank you Robyn! Daily course corrections from God are so helpful to stressing under Grace…
Great post Jerry. Thanks for sharing what a huge difference a shift in mindset can make.
Thank you Robyn! Daily course corrections from God are so helpful to stressing under Grace…
Wonderful Jerry! Great lesson on God preparing us for the ministry He has chosen. Nothing is wasted in Gods economy!
Amen to that Dyann!
Wonderful Jerry! Great lesson on God preparing us for the ministry He has chosen. Nothing is wasted in Gods economy!
Amen to that Dyann!
Excellent blog, Jerry! Soon after I received my undergraduate degree in speech education, I took an interim job as an executive secretary at the Steelcase Corporation in Grand Rapids, Michigan. With moving mid-year, there were no teaching positions available and I felt like I was working “beneath my potential” as I answered correspondence that was sent to the executives in this company. Years later, I realized what a bonus it was to be trained by the executive assistant to the president of the company. She taught me how to write a concise, well-worded letter that would grab the attention of the recipient and produce a greater probability that a large sale would be made. Later, in ministry, I realized what a valuable tool I had been given that would help me to respond with professionalism, tact, and kindness in the correspondence I had with meeting planners. Thanks for the reminder that humility and a willingness to do what feels like “the small stuff” is vitally important in our writing, speaking, and leadership ministries.
What a wonderful corollary to the blog Carol! Thanks so much and it’s a great reminder for me daily to stay humble to the presence of the Lord.
Excellent blog, Jerry! Soon after I received my undergraduate degree in speech education, I took an interim job as an executive secretary at the Steelcase Corporation in Grand Rapids, Michigan. With moving mid-year, there were no teaching positions available and I felt like I was working “beneath my potential” as I answered correspondence that was sent to the executives in this company. Years later, I realized what a bonus it was to be trained by the executive assistant to the president of the company. She taught me how to write a concise, well-worded letter that would grab the attention of the recipient and produce a greater probability that a large sale would be made. Later, in ministry, I realized what a valuable tool I had been given that would help me to respond with professionalism, tact, and kindness in the correspondence I had with meeting planners. Thanks for the reminder that humility and a willingness to do what feels like “the small stuff” is vitally important in our writing, speaking, and leadership ministries.
What a wonderful corollary to the blog Carol! Thanks so much and it’s a great reminder for me daily to stay humble to the presence of the Lord.
Awesome! Jerry, As i read I thought of my son, whose a stay home dad, 2 children, along with a little seasonal outside work. He makes me very proud of what he’s doing. Thank you God bless !!!
Awesome! Jerry, As i read I thought of my son, whose a stay home dad, 2 children, along with a little seasonal outside work. He makes me very proud of what he’s doing. Thank you God bless !!!
Truth spoken Jerry! The Lord often provides the training, resources and experiences we need through previous employment, tasks, and even co-workers in preparation for our next God ordained assignment.
( Honored to share the stage with you this past weekend).
Truth spoken Jerry! The Lord often provides the training, resources and experiences we need through previous employment, tasks, and even co-workers in preparation for our next God ordained assignment.
( Honored to share the stage with you this past weekend).
Fantastic post. I loved my career as a CPA and had a successful accounting practice. When our child became severely ill with mental illness, I gave it all up to give my all to learning, helping, and keeping my child alive. I had no idea what God had in mind. But here I am today, the little girl who wouldn’t even raise her hand in class, who now speaks, writes, and has the privilege of helping other caregivers along this path to not give up on their loved ones. God is so good!
I loved your reminder to stop whining. After a tough year, during January, I did my share of whining and needed forgiveness for my focus on what was hard, unexpected, and challenging. It surprised me since I have been doing this for over fifteen years. And I genuinely feel it is an honor that God trusted me enough to be a momma to two and wife to those who suffer.
Thank you for reminding us God has a plan, and His plan is perfect.
Fantastic post. I loved my career as a CPA and had a successful accounting practice. When our child became severely ill with mental illness, I gave it all up to give my all to learning, helping, and keeping my child alive. I had no idea what God had in mind. But here I am today, the little girl who wouldn’t even raise her hand in class, who now speaks, writes, and has the privilege of helping other caregivers along this path to not give up on their loved ones. God is so good!
I loved your reminder to stop whining. After a tough year, during January, I did my share of whining and needed forgiveness for my focus on what was hard, unexpected, and challenging. It surprised me since I have been doing this for over fifteen years. And I genuinely feel it is an honor that God trusted me enough to be a momma to two and wife to those who suffer.
Thank you for reminding us God has a plan, and His plan is perfect.
Love this Jerry! It’s clarifying for me –
whatever God asks us to do is important, independent of what we think (judge?).
It’s all stepping stones to somewhere higher if we’re humble enough to let God be God and greater than our imperfect mortal mind’s imaginings & ‘shoulds ‘.
Thank you! God continues to help me keep my vertical alignment every day!