Reflections of a Pizza Widow by Amanda Faye

My husband has finally retired from the pizza delivery business. I am so grateful to have my husband home safely, and am giddy with excitement at all the time I will have him in the coming weeks. For me, the last 8 months have been a whirlwind of passing in the hallway, constant laundering of the Domino’s uniform, prayer for my husband's safety, boring lonely nights alone with only Fox News and Dave Ramsey to keep me company, and late nights struggling to stay up until one o’clock in the morning so that I could at least see my husband before I fell asleep. For Russ it has been an exhausting schedule of get up, go to work, rush home (hopefully in time to eat something), rush right back out to work another full day, come home, fall in bed and do the very same thing over again, and again. This, however, has only been the logistical aspect of his experience. There is a whole other part of our experience that I don’t feel has been properly recognized by those around him.

Let's start with the WHY of the Domino’s chapter of our life. This was not a desperate situation that we were reacting to, or a hardship we had to endure and have finally been delivered from. This was a very intentional decision, as a couple, to take control of our lives and our money. We set a goal for ourselves. We formulated a plan and executed it. We, as most Americans, had a lot of debt. I don’t mean that we had 6 credit cards with $50, 000 and were on the verge of bankruptcy. Not at all. Far from it. Compared to most members of our demographic we were in good shape. Yeah, we had a little debt, but we owned a home in an impressive section of town, paid our tithes, and both had good jobs, so what are a few small balance credit cards? The Scripture is very clear on the issue of debt. I will not list the specific passages because most of you already know them, and even if you don’t you are more than capable of doing the research. Once the teaching of the Scripture, not to mention the mathematical truth of the situation, penetrated our hearts we had to act on it. Mathematically there were only a couple of avenues by which we would be able to eliminate debt from our lives. The first was to cut our lifestyle by eliminating unnecessary expenditures such as eating out. The second was to increase our income. We decided to do both. That brings us to the HOW.

Dave Ramsey was introduced to us. Truth has a way of settling in your heart, and common sense of earning your respect. Dave taught us both, straight from the Scripture. Dave recommends that your second job have a maximum earning rate for the time invested. Delivering pizza met that requirement as Russ was able to earn an average of $15 per hour. By working at Domino’s he made it possible for us to pay off $16,000 in debt in 8 months. That is phenomenal. That is my husband. He has made it possible for us to use our income for what is meant for: taking care of our family…not paying for past purchases that we could not afford to make.

My husband has proven himself, during this time, to be exactly the kind of man that every father hopes his daughter will marry. He stepped up to the plate and did what it took to accomplish the goal we set for our family. There was more to it for him, than just going to work in the evening. He willingly set aside his pride, and any ego he had, to do a job that is far below his capability. I’m sure, when people were snooty and dismissive with him as their delivery person, that he felt like telling them that he actually had a white collar job during the day. But he didn’t. I’m sure when those around him looked down their noses or acted sympathetic, like he was to be pitied, or like they would be too embarrassed to do the same thing, that he felt those slights, but he continued to work. When people were speculating aloud to him about the dangers involved as if he were not already aware of them, I’m sure he felt discouraged, but he did not falter. He just kept his eye on the prize, which was a better life for his family. He never complained or made me feel guilty for only working one job. Men all over the world talk a big game about “doing whatever it takes” to take care of the family God has entrusted to them. So few of them actually do it. Mine did it, and I am proud of him in a way that few wives get to experience. I know from experience that I can trust him to make good decisions for our family even when they are not convenient or comfortable for HIM. I wish he had received more praise and encouragement for the integrity and altruism that he has displayed.

Russ, this is how I have viewed you for the last eight months. For the reasons above, my daddy does not feel the need to check on me, to inquire how I’m being treated, or worry about my safety or well being. He is able to trust my husband's leadership, which is a blessing that every woman, and her father, prays for. Thank you for the man that you are. I am so grateful that my children will have you for their father, and I hope that James can grow up to be half the man that you have demonstrated yourself to be.

Oh, and thanks for letting me guest spot on your blog. I love love love you!