I was visiting with my brother last weekend. As we talked about our children and how much they have grown up and all the things they have accomplished I showed him a picture of my youngest son on his first day of his career job. You may remember me sharing the picture with you as well. I also shared with him a second picture one I haven’t yet shared with you. We laughed as we looked at the second picture. The conversation became serious as I shared what I thought to myself when I first saw this picture. My brother asked me to share it with you.
Let me back up to the day I received said picture.
When I received the picture of my son at his job I shared it with my husband who was at work. He having the sense of humor that he does sent me a picture of himself at work. I laughed so loud it scared the dog and he began to bark at me!
Throughout the day I kept going back to both pictures (the one Tommy sent me and the one Flip sent) I did this because I was not only proud of Tommy, but I was also very proud of Phillip! He gets dirty so Tommy doesn’t have to!
Phillip went to college after high school and then returned while I was pregnant with Tommy. I remember how excited my older two children were when they saw dad cross the stage to receive his diploma. Because Phillip enjoys hands on work and is good at it he continued to work as an Industrial Electrician and has for over 30 years. It’s hard work because even in supervision he chooses to get dirty and work with his hands! There are times he works 12 to 16 hour days and weeks he works all 7 days. He leaves the house while it is still dark outside and returns home after the sun has set. He works in the heat of summer and the cold of winter. He has worked in the freezing cold of Alaska and the sultry heat of south Texas! And he has done it without complaining, because he is a good father, husband and provider.
In an age where we as a society put so much emphasis on getting a college education we must remember that having a good trade is just as valuable. What would we do without those, plumbers, electricians, HVAC technicians?
Friends I share all of this just to say that it took a blue collar worker to pay for my child’s education. My husband’s blue collar paid for my son’s white collar. Think about that and encourage your children to find something they love doing and make a difference in their community, even if it means not having that college degree.
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