Chapter 8
Values and Balancing Family Life with Business Life Since I was a very young person I saw the need for balancing family life with business life. As I grew to school age, I made sure that I devoted the time to helping with the care of my younger sister, Mary Louise (Mary Lou) to family and friends. There was time for all of our homework, on good days there was time for play in the backyard, then there was chores, that we each had. Patricia Ann, (Pat) to family and friends, went to St. Francis Xavier Elementary School thru the eighth (8th) Grade then to public school at Lincoln Junior High School, and then Albuquerque High School. Mary Lou and I went to St. Francis Xavier Elementary School, except for the fourth (4th) grade when we went to John Marshall Elementary School. Mary Lou and I both learned Philippians Chapter 2, verse 15: where it says “Study to show yourself approved unto God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” Mary Lou knew this verse was very special to her future because she returned to graduate from High School at her prior school, Albuquerque High School in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It was ten (10) years later, in May 1972. She is a remarkable young thinking person. She also learned to balance family life with business life. In this case, business life was her goal of completing her High School Diploma. (Reference The Holy Bible, II Timothy Chapter 2 verse 15 says “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a worker who does need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (Reference: The Holy Bible, II Timothy Chapter 2 verse 15). (KJV). My sister, Mary Louise Foley is to be commended for her wanting to receive her High School Diploma. She did it while raising a son, William (Billy), who was about three (3) years of age. She has a health setback about a year later, but knew she had to work hard to get better. When she recovered she got a job at Steak-N-Shake in Peoria, Illinois. She worked hard got an apartment with her son, Billy, and bought her own car. Today she is busy enjoying retirement in Port Huron, Michigan. She is a widow with two (2) son William (Bill) Johnson, who served four years proudly with the U.S. Marines. He and his wife have two (2) children and live near Appleton, Wisconsin. A younger son, Jason Gibson lives in Lansing Michigan with his wife and one (1) child. They are all a very beautiful family, and cherish their time together. Also my oldest sister can give a true example of balancing family and business life. Patricia Ann Heileg, resides with her husband Wilfred in Brown City, Michigan. They are also both retired, and have worked very hard for many years raising four (4) children, Margaret, Robert, William, and Patricia (Patty). They have nine (9) grandchildren, and four (4) great-grandchildren. If anyone can balance the life of family and business it is the Heilegs’ because they operated a large dairy farm in Richmond, Michigan, and Wilfred worked as a tree-surgeon for the Wayne County Park Department in the city of Detroit, Michigan. Patricia Ann and Wilfred Heileg are excellent role-models, and are truly a fantastic couple. In my own life I was always careful to be sure I had a successful schedule that was a true balance with family life and business life. I was once at a concert, and I overheard a singer tell another that his family would just have to overlook his being away. I said to myself, “How sad, because a job can be arranged to include a precious gift of a family.” In some cases, families will have to be away, but you are to seek what the word of God says about a particular situation. It is important that there be an understanding in our daily relationship with one another. (Reference The Holy Bible, Proverbs