PbyCj

This morning was very difficult for me to get up.

I had symptoms, not feeling well. My body was not feeling too well either. It was just challenging for me to get up.

But I got up.

Got up by faith—because it’s definitely not my strength.

And I was just thinking about how the days where it’s difficult for me to get up, those days where it’s hard, where I don’t think I have enough to give… you know those days.

I’ve had quite a few of them.

But each of those days—thankfully—I’ve been able to get up and go.

And those days usually end up being real good days.

I was just reminded of that time I was in the military.

And it was one of those days.

I was upset for whatever reason—or why I was upset, I don’t even remember.

I was questioning my life, questioning why I was in the position I was in.

I didn’t like what was going on.

I was just upset about something.

But I got up and went to work anyway.

Little did I know.

Little did I know that that day, I was gonna end up being advanced to E-5.

Mind you, at this time, I had only been in the Navy for three years.

One of the guys was like, “Oh, did you shine your boots?”

I was on duty that day, and he was acting all funny.

He’s like, “Give me your radio.”

I’m like, “My radio?”

Why is he acting funny?

Then he says, “Make sure you’re on the all-hands call.”

I’m like, okay… no big deal. No big deal.

I get out there, and I’m just thinking,

I don’t know what could be going on.

I had just gotten a NAM not too long ago—a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.

So I was like,

I didn’t do anything else to get another NAM… this couldn’t be for me.

Then the CO starts talking.

He announces a guy, the first guy—how he got promoted.

And I’m just thinking,

There’s no way.

There’s no way that I’m included in this.

Because those other guys had been in the Navy for years.

It made sense for them to be advanced.

They’d been waiting. They’d earned it.

Then they call the last name:

“GSM2 Washington.”

I was shocked.

I was stunned.

To this day, I have not been surprised to that degree.

I don’t get surprised.

But that day?

That day I could not believe that me—literally me—was advanced to Second Class Petty Officer.

And they gave me the mic.

Before that, my Senior Chief said:

“You act like a Second Class. You’ll get paid like a Second Class.”

And I was just… stunned.

They gave me the mic to say something, but I couldn’t.

Because there was such a wave of emotion happening.

I was still upset about whatever I was upset about earlier.

And then just—this freedom, and gratitude, fell on me.

And I couldn’t talk.

If I had said one word, I would’ve ugly cried.

Ugly cried in front of everybody.

But everyone understood.

They gave me the nod, like, yeah.

And it was such a proud moment.

All the Chiefs were happy.

They knew.

They knew.

They knew that I was up for it.

And I had no idea.

And I was just reminded of that today.

Because today was one of those days. It was difficult to get up.

But the day turned out good.

These days can happen.

It’s a good reminder to keep going.

A reminder to keep pushing.

That every step forward,

every effort,

every thought that’s been put into action,

every battle—

Even though there are things that may go unseen by people…

they don’t go unseen by God.

God is a God who sees.

I’m just reminded of that because I had a really small conversation today,

and it really blessed me.

I wasn’t even thinking about them.

I wasn’t even thinking in that framework.

But it reminded me:

Nothing we do in the Lord is in vain.

Nothing.

No matter what it is,

Nothing we do in the Lord is in vain.

So stay encouraged.

Keep going.

Keep pushing.

And yeah—

Have a great week.

Have a great month.

And share.

Share the good things.

In other news: Joe Rose 🌹 has grown a little and she is a little explorer. I also spy a baby isopod (reproduced). I’m technically a grandparent.