God At Work

I haven't talked much about a particular vocation I have. I'm sometimes embarrassed about it. It can seem so shallow. Yet God continues to humble, bless, and provide for me and my family through this vocation. The timing of it is what I can only describe as God-directed. The people that it brings into my life are precious blessings that I am honoured to serve. The financial benefit it has provided has been ... just. enough. The joy and challenge it gives me is awesome. 

I'm a hairdresser. Hairstylist. Beauty operator (going old school there). I cut, colour, highlight, perm (if you really wanted me to which I doubt you do), and style other peoples' hair. 
I offer a service: hair grows, I cut it. We usually seem to want what we don't have so: curly? straighten it. Grey hair? cover it up. got mousy brown? I can fix that. Wanna look like Angelina Jolie? there's only so much I can do;)

Up until recently I didn't have a lot of time or space for this vocation of mine I was trained for when I was 19 years old. It went on the back burner once I got married and we moved quite a bit in those early years. I had kids and became at stay-at-home mom turned homeschooler. My hair vocation took a back seat (like, a way back seat in the old station wagons where the seat faced backwards). It was regulated to friends and family who were OK with sitting in my kitchen for haircuts and leaning face forward in my kitchen sink to wash their colour out.

Even in those days long ago when my kiddos were little, this bit of work I did was enough for to pay for the violin lessons I took up again as an adult- until it was time for Will to start lessons. They were also bartered in exchange for weekly French lessons for Will from a friend on leave from teaching while she stayed home with her young children.  I had a couple families where I would go into their homes and cut all the kids' hair so mom didn't have to take them into a shop and hope they'd behave.  I appreciated the friends that were comfortable enough to let me keep my practice up as I foiled their hair at a snails pace because I was slightly out of practice. I made sure to give them a good deal for their good natured humouring! 

I had maintained my Wisconsin license through this time. By that I mean I sent the licensing board of WI a check every two years or something to keep it active. But when they changed the laws and required continuing education within the state I lived too far away from I was motivated to look into my options. So about 7 (?) years ago I went through the process of earning my Ontario license. It was a pain, I studied, I paid money but I got it and now I pay them a check every year. 

Which brings us to the summer before Will went to high school. We were going to do it. We were finishing the basement of our home after saving up for this huge project and dream. We found a contractor we knew and felt very comfortable with who was a gem! We had an office for Wayne put in, an open area that's a TV/lounging space with a queen size futon that overnight guests to use, plenty of storage closets, a pantry, a small but complete bathroom, a cute laundry area and yes, a hair studio for me! Now I could get out of my kitchen (no more other people's hair in our food!). 

So Will's school. It ain't cheap. They're not giving away a private, Christian education with room and board. However it's highly subsidized by our church body and we have also benefited from eligible scholarships that have greatly helped the bottom line. My father-in-law was always passionate about Christian education - not just for his own kids/grandkids but for all Canadians. He helped numerous Canadian kids over the years who wanted to pursue a Christian education in the States through our church body. He was also extremely generous with his grandkids and always said he would "take care of it". That first year of high school he did. Wow! 

Then this dear man passed away unexpectedly. Unfortunately his intention to "take care of it" for the future was gone. I'll be honest and say that I panicked. At that same time the Canadian dollar plummeted! We needed Will to be there. We are a family who is very passionate about Christian education so much so that we homeschool through 8th grade since we have no other viable options here. Luther Prep is an extension of what we do in our home and offers what we can't at that level and time in life. 

For me to get an outside job seemed hard to do with me still teaching Hosanna at home. I was not anxious to give away the freedom of schedule to make visits to see him and family back in Wisconsin. But here I had a salon space ready to go, a few clients I'd had over the years, and a God who knew our needs. 

I can't really explain it. They've come. They've sat in my chair and allowed me into their lives. They've let me comb the tangles out of their hair! They share their stories and ask about mine. We've laughed and sometimes cried. 

I get to fix hair for prom. I give first hair cuts and pose for pictures that'll be in the baby book. I snap off ruler lengths of hair that will be donated to charity. I coloured a teenagers hair red, then mermaid colours, then green. I get to do the back to school cuts, the getting ready for Christmas cuts, and little boy cuts that take all their will power to sit still. I cut men's hair and try to be suave in cutting their wiry eyelashes as to not embarrass them. I get to share in the few hours of respite a young mother gets so she can do something for herself. Long time friends sit in my chair and new friends too.  I shaved off the remaining hair of a cancer patient. I cried when she sent me a thank you. 

I'm not booked solid or rolling in the dough. All I can say is that it's enough. It's busy enough to fit into all my other vocations and duties. It provides enough extra income to just cover the tuition bills. I mean it. When it happened the first time I thought it was a fluke. We pay two instalments over the course of the school year so it gives me time to build up in between. But when it happened again, and again, and again? Ok. I get it. Thank you, Lord! Will plans on attending MLC next year to pursue the pastoral ministry. Tuition will be twice as much then and I wonder how that will work. I look forward to seeing what God has planned! 

Like the other vocations I hold this too has opened more ways for me to serve my neighbour, use my gifts and help my family. In turn it has blessed me with relationships, satisfaction in a job well done, and a creative outlet. 

I love my space in my little corner of the world. It's just how I like it. I have no commute, people come to me. I walk down the basement stairs with my favourite oversized Canada mug filled with tea, turn on the lights and find the Spotify station I want to listen to. I put my styling apron over my head and tie the strands around my waist. They come and I serve, I create and I share in my vocation. God at work.