Can I Roll With the Changes?

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17

There was a time I was living in what I like to call "the sweet spot". Our parents were living vibrant busy lives, our kids were little and we were always on the go and discovering fun things with them. Our health was pretty good and not too much was getting in our way. Our home was full of laughter, Disney movies, family parties, backyard picnics, play dates with friends, and quiet nights on the couch. No one moved away, the church was full of all the same people, and all was as we like to say "right with the world". I don't think I've said that in a really long time. Have any of you? It's quite a world out there these days.

The thing about the progression of life is that when we are living in that so-called "sweet spot", we don't even define it that way.  There are kids with fevers, bills to pay, unexpected deaths, disappointments, and lots of rainy days on those picnic plans. It's only when we are struggling in the "now" that we tend to look back and think "those days were surely easier, better, slower, more fun, and just sweeter somehow."  Sadly, one of the reasons we are so busy thinking things will "one day get better" is because we aren't living in the present. We are always thinking about the days we think were better, or the days in the future that will surely be better.

Change isn't always good and it isn't always easy. It can be difficult to still see life as "sweet" when many things are coming at a person to sour things up. An ill parent who is struggling with memory issues, another with mobility issues. Another who lives alone. A nest that is nearly empty, but not quite, and so all that goes with that is both financially and emotionally taxing at times. All I find myself saying about these seemingly rapid changes all at once is, "what the heck?" because sometimes I just can't keep up with all the surprises! I find it difficult to stop and "live in the present moment" sometimes. I'm always thinking, "when we get this paid off, or get the girls through school, or when I feel better, or when this happens or that happens.....things will be so much better..." Sometimes it is just hard to stop, be present and say, "today is a blessing just because it is today, and it's not going to be today again." One day in the future I am going to wish I was this age, doing this thing again!

I am a person who needs some things to stay the same. I kind of like that comfort of sameness, at least somewhere, but I'm learning that sameness doesn't really exist anymore, and time is flying by as I keep searching for things to stay the same. What I'm realizing is that I'm becoming a prisoner of my own past by not stepping into these changes, accepting that some things just have to progress, evolve, move on and change, in order for me to grow too. I may not like it, but I need to start seeing changes as God's way of moving things forward. His purpose and plan for others sometimes doesn't coincide with my plan for them. LOL

 I often ask God to help me accept the changes in my life with grace and give me the strength and courage to face the things to come. The reason I like things to stay the same is because change is sometimes really scary. It is unknown. It is putting your foot in a lake and not knowing if it will be a wonderful experience or if something will come up and bite off your toes! But resting in God's perfect peace gives me the comfort of knowing that any changes coming will have his stamp on them. Whether or not we survive the change depends on our willingness to depend fully on God for everything we need.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8

Sharing a song that I love today. Google and listen. It's my empty-nester anthem. 

Landslide 

by Fleetwood Mac/Stevie Nicks

I took my love, I took it down

Climbed a mountain and I turned around

And I saw my reflection in the snow covered hills 

'Til the landslide brought me down 

Oh mirror in the sky, what is love?

Can the child in my heart rise above?

Can I sail through the changin' ocean tides?

Can I handle the seasons of my life?

Mmm

Well, I've been 'fraid of changin' 

'Cause I built my life around you

But time makes you bolder 

Even children get older

And I'm gettin' older too

I'm gettin' older too

Ah, take my love, take it down

Oh, climb a mountain and turn around

And if you see my reflection in the snow covered hills

Well, the landslide will bring it down