Outside of God, the only certain thing is that life changes.
Have you noticed how some changes are subtle, while others are pivotal?
Growing up, changes were subtle though expected. As a child one anticipates moving through school grades one by one with the goal of graduating. Many individuals move on to college or a job after graduation. This change can be relatively subtle if one’s home life is the same, but if a move and a new city come with this new step than the change is much more pivotal. New responsibilities are realized, new opportunities are presented and a whole new world of decisions are just waiting to be made.
When I was growing up some of the most pivotal changes that I recall were when we moved to a new state or when a sibling got married. Most of the other changes were subtle and expected: school, jobs, play. Lather, rinse, repeat.
And then I graduated and we again moved. I got a job designing websites – one of my first real jobs! Every week when we got paid, my sister and I would head downtown and walk the antique shops with coffee in hand. We had a lovely time and I am so glad that we made those memories! A little while later the economy collapsed and life changed. My sister went to work full time and I started a second job. The only trips to town involved work or grocery shopping. But quite honestly, I enjoyed those days! It stretched me in new ways and it inspired a new level of confidence in God!
Sometimes things seem to change along and along, and then other times they seem to take years to materialize.
Life changes are certainly curious! In the best of ways, truly, but they are curious!
Growing up, every year or two we would have a big celebration. Either a wedding, graduation, new baby or engagement. We seemed to always have plans for our next family get together! It was a lot of fun – and I can only imagine how much work my parents put into these events!
And then things changed after I graduated. We haven’t had another wedding or graduation in over a decade. But my nephews and nieces are nearing their graduations! I am looking forward to excellent excuses for get-togethers and lots of laughing! With graduations near, it seems only logical that weddings will be around the corner again!
I love the way that life changes. But most of all, I love that God is in the details. Our lives and our stories are written by Him!
Some changes are the same, but different.
I have owned a small business for more than a decade now, but I have had many different businesses in that time. I started out selling used books back in my senior year of high school. This was when I first learned about selling online! It was exciting to ship books throughout the United States!
Next up, I created CDs of old time radio shows. If you’ve never listened to old time radio, you really ought to look it up! I sold these discs online and downtown. It was fun to share these stories and mysteries with so many throughout the world!
Around this time, I began selling shipping supplies. This quickly grew into my largest business! And on and on my businesses began and changed. I’ve closed some out along and along, but for the last ten or so years, I’ve had at least one active business. So yes, things are different, yet they are still the same.
Do you anticipate life changes or do fight them?
In some areas I am eager for change – for growth, for direction, for inspiration. But in other areas, I don’t want a thing to change. Life is just right as it is. And yet I want to learn to look ahead eagerly and expectantly knowing that God is in those changes and He is orchestrating them for our very best!
I enjoy looking back and seeing the path that my life has taken. I see God in those details! I love to trace the circumstances that have led to where I am. It is truly remarkable how God works things!
Let me encourage you to trust God with life changes. He knows just what you need and when you need it! Because of Him we can step forward in confidence and security!
Until Next Time!
Hope.
PS. Want to know more about embracing change and the season that you find yourself in? Be sure to read this post: https://www.theamericanlady.com/2017/04/05/how-to-embrace-this-season/