This is my first post as I have just joined. Please forgive the selfish first post, but I am at a crossroads and looking for some insight from some fellow Christians. I hope you don't mind, but I really would like to ask some professionals their opinions, please feel free to chime in here. I am going to purposely be vague about what I do because the anonymity helps to not influence opinions.
I am 38, a believer, have a wonderful wife and healthy 18 month boy. I have been in roughly the same career field for the past 15 years. Two years ago I was hired onto my dream job, which took me 13 years to build the experience to get. I love my job and make good money at it. My family is happy and it gives us a lot of time together.
Down side, we live internationally. Where we live is beautiful, but it is another culture and we miss home (USA) and our large extended families. We thought we would only be here internationally for 3 years, however it looks like a minimum of four years now, maybe more. I have been offered the opportunity to return home and learn a family business in an unrelated field.
Both my wife and my families live within 50 miles of each other in the USA. Each side has multiple kids and then kids of their own. We are extremely close to our families and miss them as stated above. Since becoming a father myself, I feel a paternal draw back home to be near everybody. The offer from the family business will provide for us (my wife and son) but it will be a pay cut. It is also not as secure of a job as I have now. While there is great freedom in being self employed, it will eventually be running a sales based organization and is not very appealing to me, although if I am successful much greater income potential. My current career field is pretty exciting and I am fortunate to be part of a small group of people in the world who get to do what I do, there is a lot of pride in it for me.
My wife and I have been leaning towards going back home as we keep coming back to family first. We will however not be here forever (2 years now) and at most we think 2 more. If we stick it out another year our options will be greater and we may even be able to leave next year. Offer for the family business is now and may not be there next year....
We have prayed so much about this it is getting distracting from everyday life. Thus far we feel like we really have the freedom to go either way with our decision. I do not mind making the sacrifice if it is for the family or God has called me to it, but I will really struggle personally if I make up reasons that really do not exist as once I leave my current career field, there is no going back to it.... I am sorry if this is a bit lengthy, please chime in if you like or ask any clarifying questions. Thanks!!
I am 38, a believer, have a wonderful wife and healthy 18 month boy. I have been in roughly the same career field for the past 15 years. Two years ago I was hired onto my dream job, which took me 13 years to build the experience to get. I love my job and make good money at it. My family is happy and it gives us a lot of time together.
Down side, we live internationally. Where we live is beautiful, but it is another culture and we miss home (USA) and our large extended families. We thought we would only be here internationally for 3 years, however it looks like a minimum of four years now, maybe more. I have been offered the opportunity to return home and learn a family business in an unrelated field.
Both my wife and my families live within 50 miles of each other in the USA. Each side has multiple kids and then kids of their own. We are extremely close to our families and miss them as stated above. Since becoming a father myself, I feel a paternal draw back home to be near everybody. The offer from the family business will provide for us (my wife and son) but it will be a pay cut. It is also not as secure of a job as I have now. While there is great freedom in being self employed, it will eventually be running a sales based organization and is not very appealing to me, although if I am successful much greater income potential. My current career field is pretty exciting and I am fortunate to be part of a small group of people in the world who get to do what I do, there is a lot of pride in it for me.
My wife and I have been leaning towards going back home as we keep coming back to family first. We will however not be here forever (2 years now) and at most we think 2 more. If we stick it out another year our options will be greater and we may even be able to leave next year. Offer for the family business is now and may not be there next year....
We have prayed so much about this it is getting distracting from everyday life. Thus far we feel like we really have the freedom to go either way with our decision. I do not mind making the sacrifice if it is for the family or God has called me to it, but I will really struggle personally if I make up reasons that really do not exist as once I leave my current career field, there is no going back to it.... I am sorry if this is a bit lengthy, please chime in if you like or ask any clarifying questions. Thanks!!
