Finding the Bright Side by Shannon Bream

Author:Shannon Bream
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: The Crown Publishing Group
Published: 2019-05-14T04:00:00+00:00

“You’ll Never Make It in This Business”

I threatened to do a cartwheel across the stage when I collected my law degree, but my parents convinced me that it wouldn’t look very dignified in a dress and robe. Escaping the three years of torture just seemed worth celebrating in a big way. Sheldon and I were planning a move to Tampa, where I had accepted a position with a firm specializing in employment law. It felt like a perfect fit with my undergraduate degree in management. Sheldon was still in recovery, but we felt like spreading our wings away from family would be a smart thing to do as newlyweds.

Our budget was tight, but we found a beautiful apartment that felt more like a resort, with a state-of-the-art gym and giant, sparkling pool lined with palm trees. That’s the thing about living in Florida: sunshine makes everything better. We were happy as clams, just being together and dreaming about the future. Our weekly grocery budget was about $30. A box of pasta, some sandwich fixin’s, and cereal—presto. I didn’t think anything of it at the time, but when my mom found out years later, she started crying. “Why didn’t you come to us for help?” she said. Because we didn’t think we needed it!

Thank goodness I married a man who is fiscally responsible. The subject of money has always been an uncomfortable one for me. My family never had a cushion growing up, and finances were a major cause of tension between my parents. I’m grateful for every penny we make—I just get a stomachache when I think about managing it well.

One thing Sheldon and I have never wavered on is tithing. Both of us grew up watching our families commit to giving back out of their modest income; we believe our church manages its resources wisely, pouring into lives and communities in responsible ways. Thinking about finances has always made my blood pressure rise, but even when we barely had enough to cover monthly expenses, our tithe was the one check it didn’t scare me to write. In our minds, it’s not really our money anyway. If the good Lord has blessed us, even temporarily, in a way that we can help others, why hesitate? I’m not saying it’s always been easy, but I am saying God has been faithful.

As I studied my guts out for the bar exam that year, I prayed I wouldn’t become the first associate in firm history to fail it. We learned our results would be posted online several weeks later, so as soon as the two-day test concluded, the countdown began. Every day or so I’d hear a rumor the list was up and I’d rush to refresh the screen, only to see it wasn’t yet time. I focused on diving into the actual practice of law and quickly learned there’s plenty you don’t learn in law school. My legal secretary, Sandy, became a teacher and a lifesaver. We’re still good friends. There’s

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