Sadness

I can't put my finger on it, but I've just been sad lately. I think I've been thinking too much. When I think too much, I get mad at Home Depot for firing my husband 3 and a half months ago. It was because someone lied about him and she faxed her lies to the "higher-uppers", people who didn't know Tim and didn't look at his unmarred work record, people who were too busy that day to bother with one employee or to bother making sure the statements were accurate, so they placed an X on the termination box. And that was that, hands smacked together, there you go, another of the day's tasks done.

Tim, without their knowledge, got a copy of that fax (the one with the lies) so he wrote up a statement to set the record straight, along with people to contact to verify the facts. For 10 weeks (!), 10 WEEKS, as in 2-1/2 months, Tim was told every few days that he would "have an answer by the end of the week." A few days later, they needed a few more days, and so on. He was also told that if his statements were found to be true, he would be re-employed, of course.

All of the statements were found to be true, but a company such as Home Depot cannot "afford" to admit that they are wrong, so they did not allow him to come back to work again. They couldn't find anything to pin on Tim. I am not being subjective when I say that he was an exemplary manager for them. They literally could not find any wrong, so they decided to keep him fired on the basis of "leaving 2 hours early one day." He was a salaried manager, without set hours, so it is not possible to leave early. Later, we found out that Home Depot has callied the other stores that Tim has worked at and asking for statements against him.

Imagine, getting a promotion in November 2003 with a 26% salary increase plus bonuses, great life and health insurance coverage, great stock plan and IRA, and 3-1/2 years into the company, climbing up the ladder to make it to management. Imagine moving your family to a new state and new home in February 47 miles to be where the company wants to transfer you, but they will not pay for the move because it is not 50 miles. Imagine this: you are the single income of a family of six! Four children, ages 9, 7, 4, and 1. You must take your job seriously with that at stake so you work any hours they ask and never take a sick day or a personal day.

Then, without warning one day, after a 5-day birthday vacation, you come back to work on a Thursday in August. You work most of the day as the sole manager running the store. After lunch, you are called into the back office and handed a termination letter. You will only receive one more paycheck, and it will not be a full one as you have not finished out the work week. They will take insurance premiums out of your last check, but are cancelling the insurance policies tomorrow (you will find this out 2 weeks later). You will not receive the bonus that you have worked 8 months toward.

Just imagine all that! I still cannot get the fist out of my stomach. Even 3-1/2 months later, I still feel it.

Tim was devastated, of course, but he moves on more easily than I do. He has enjoyed spending more time with his family and has found some contract-type work because of Hurricane Ivan coming through the area (a difficult thing to live through without an income!).

Me? I try so hard to give it to God. But I keep mulling over it, and I keep getting headaches. It has been such a painful thing. It bothers me that the people who hurt us the most in this are just happily working at their jobs without a thought in our direction.

Anyways, you can pray for me in this. I want to shake this sadness away. I have a pretty house, even if it is far away from our hometown and home church, and I have a houseful of children who are all such blessings. And I have Tim, who has always been my rock. It has been so nice to be with him more.