Sunday, January 8, 2012

2011 Year of Challenges

I think everyone would agree when I say that year 2011 is the year of challenges for most people specially for the victims of disastrous calamities. In all my years, I can never think of any year that is as challenging as what the previous year have brought to everyone, even to me.

I remember, 2011 started with a challenge to my company's financial stability and throughout the year it has been a challenge for everyone of us - I think I've only received my salary 4x last year. My year ended with a big bang - I got terminated from my company.

Well, I actually resigned around the month of September but my resignation was denied. I'm glad they did because my wife had some serious health problems after that and to think she's all alone and has a baby coming. It was all according to His plan - it is what we always say and it really is what God had planned for us and it is the best.

I don't know how it works in any other country but here in Saudi Arabia, when you have resigned, you will only receive (I think) 1/3 of your benefits compared to the amount you'll receive when you are terminated which is 100% plus they'll pay my end-of-service calculated up to my finished contract which happens every August (yearly automatic renewal).

Year 2011 may have brought me a lot of hurtful feeling specially with regards to my company. Having no support from them on my financial issues with regards to my health insurance and even financial support so I can go to my designated office which was very far from my place (costs me about 25 SR or 270 pesos or double it if going back and forth). I ask my manager how I can go to the place if I don't have money and all he says is "I don't know but you still have to go there." and they deduct if I didn't go - was there justice to it? Was that even fair? Our company owes us around 7-8 months salary plus 3 vacation pays and tickets for me - they keep denying my vacation.

But year 2011 wasn't so bad. After all, we received one of our greatest gift - Noah Caleb. He is a great addition to the family. My wife got to open file at King Abdulaziz University Hospital and was admitted there for free - yehey!. Noah was born there and was under a photolite therapy for more than a week and my wife also has to stayed there for almost 10 days and we didn't even pay a dime nor asked for a donation money - it was a blessing. My wife also got a permanent job on a clinic nearby our house which has a very good standards with regards to paying their employees on time plus a very understanding employer - bless them dear God.

In total, we are blessed. God is good for making all things according to His plan. Now for the year 2012, I hope everything would be great. And with a starting balance of no job for me and a great family, I believe this will be an interesting year and for sure a blessed one too.

Goodbye 2011 and welcome 2012. I leave you all with an inspiration from the Bible.

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven" - Ecc 3: 1
 God bless to all.

2 comments:

Unknown said...

blessing talaga yan :D happy new year :)

Noel Ablon said...

Thanks Bino, blessing talaga. Thanks for visiting.