change

I know I haven't posted in a long time, and I probably should be doing something else right now like cleaning or laundry or working out, but I wanted to get these thoughts down.

For a few days, I've been thinking a lot about change. As many of you know, my family and I have been going through a lot of change over the past couple of years.

First of all, I'm not very good with change. I don't like it. Mostly because I assume that change means negative. I think that, if something changes, it won't be as good as it was; it has already been the best it will be.

But, God put into my heart the other night, what if change brings something better? What if He's saying, "I know you really love this situation/position/area, but just wait, I have plans for it to be even better, you just need to let go for a second."

My thoughts went immediately to my kids. They used to love doing flips by holding onto my thumbs, walking up my legs, then flipping their little bodies over.... but there were times when they would grab my hands wrong, and the flip would not turn out. My hand would be in a painful position, and their elbows would be bent the wrong way. So, I would say, "Hang on, let go for a second." (I know, I've always wondered why I would say hang on...) They wouldn't want to at first. It was only after I told them it would make it better if they would just let go, so we could grab our hands right, that they would actually let go. Then we would fix our grip, and the flips would be painless and fun.

God doesn't tell us to let go of Him. He wants us to let go of our situation. Let go of the negative thoughts. The fear. The security of the familiar.

Change can be good. Change can be better than you ever thought possible. So embrace it. Work with it, not against it. Don't convince yourself that "It won't ever be as good as it was."

I still struggle with the changes that are happening in my kids' lives. I don't want them to grow up, and I dread the day they leave home. But, if I fight the change, I'm losing out on what they are now. I'm missing these moments. So, as much as I hate it, my kids aren't babies that need me every moment. They are kids who have soccer games and baseball practices and gymnastics and school projects and homework... who want me to be there. So, I will be present in the stages that they are in right now and enjoy where they are.

And, I'll look at change in a different way- it may just bring better than I've ever thought possible.