He wakes up first, makes breakfast and coffee. I choose outfits, settle hairband drama, and make their lunches. He walks them to school while the smallest one and I snuggle up to cartoons until he gets back. I could sleepwalk through our morning routine. It never changes and feels like home. But a year ago in March, I couldn’t have imagined everyday school, early early mornings, lunch without them at my table.
Things feel as though they will always be the way they are now and will never change. Until they do. And then that becomes normal for a while. Until it isn’t anymore.
Maybe you are leaning heavy against the door of change, grasping for familiar furniture to push up strong against that door. Maybe you are in the middle of a field of change, spinning in circles to find your bearings. Maybe you are stuck in your fear of change so much that you have traded in living for hopes of a risk-free existence. Still, change comes. And we get to choose what we’ll do with it.
Edie writes about change with the house that found her.
Melissa writes of making plans on her financial journey, but of things not going exactly as she thought.
A trip down memory lane helps Emily and her husband see the good side of change.
Lysa writes about an opportunity for a different kind of change, the kind that calls you out from behind your predictable routine and gently asks you to listen to that dream you’ve always had.
I love and hate change. I long for it and resist it, I welcome it and push it away, I dread it then forget it when the next change looms. How do you feel about change?
Your words regularly give me chills. Truly, you work magic with a keyboard.
How do I feel about change?
I love it, I hate it. I resist it, I embrace it.
The last line of your posted completely captivated me. I love change…after the change has occurred and I have settled into the new normal.
change is good…it keeps us flexible…keeps us dependent on the Lord…keeps us alive.
I have a lot of trouble with change but I try very hard to remember that He has a plan for me and that usually helps me, not always but most of the time. I do think that life wouldn’t be as full of life without change if that makes sense…
Great post
I would like to think I embrace change, but this line jumped out at me this morning: “Maybe you are stuck in your fear of change so much that you have traded in living for hopes of a risk-free existence.” So, maybe I’m not so good with it, as that describes me to a T right now. (no pun intended!)
Wondering if you had my car bugged last night and were listening into my husband’s and my conversation. I’d like to say I don’t mind change, and for the most part I don’t. But fear is so gripping. If only it were easy to overcome.
We are moving this summer, having a baby this fall, moving again the following summer, and both of us starting new jobs with each move. Sometimes I think we’re too used to change; that I grow callous to it and know too well how to disconnect from a community when it’s time to leave. It is heartbreaking to leave friends and memories every year or two in our military lifestyle, but how many times can you let your heart break? Maybe I need to let it break a little more this time.
I think I feel the same way about change as you do. Sometimes it excites me, but then it scares me and makes me anxious. As uncomfortable as it is, I feel myself growing through it, and I think that is a positive thing.
Change usually excites me…and if it’s been a while I crave it. I also think that obedience to God usually involves risk, and hence, change. We’ve had what appears at first to be negative change to deal with over the years – infertility, job loss, career changes, financial difficulties. Somehow, though, I never felt myself resisting those changes too much. However, our only daughter will be 18 later this year. This is the first change I feel myself resisting (at least internally)…and know it will be more of a struggle to accept, and then embrace it. Great post!
Lisa
I hate it. I hate it and dread it and fear it and routinely find myself with every muscle clenched as though through sheer force of will I could stop it coming.
…though the grass withers and the flowers fade, the Word of our God stands forever…
Funny you should ask. My husband went back to work today after 2.5 years at home. The job is a gift from God–he wasn’t even looking for it. He’d been designing websites from home for churches and ministries. This job is with our local Christian radio station, and his job title is Director of Digital Presence–a position they created just for him.
Anyway. We needed this. We’re so behind on our bills (trying hard not to freak out at threats of “we’re turning this and that off if you don’t pay). But I’m sad that our freedom is gone. And I loved getting to spend so much time with him.
But God is good. And He knows. And I’m trusting Him.
I am always conflicted with change. I was a girl who grew up in the same house in the country ’til my military man took me ’round the world! Sometimes I love change, sometimes I loathe it. Thankfully we have ourselves a Rock whose faithfulness to us does NOT change!
Loved this, Emily!
In the past I hated it and would avoid it at all costs, but God has a way of teaching me lessons. I am slowly learning to embrace it. One small step at a time. I’ve made a lot of changes in my short life and I pray that all future changes will be guided by the Lord.
-FringeGirl
ok. this is wierd. i’m preparing my post for tuesdays unwrapped. it is about change.:)
I think I like change. I talk like I like it. But when it comes I sometimes let myself be paralyzed it. I spend half my time peering into the future, and half my time covering my eyes. But sometimes, just sometimes, I find I have the courage to embrace it.
thanks for the link. i try to bend slowly into change. i don’t appreciate sudden forced change. i have to warm up to new ideas. but sometimes god doesn’t give me warm up time. sometimes he surprises.
Hmmm…I don’t like change. I don’t warm up very quickly. Then change becomes normal. I don’t trust my feelings…I wholly lean on the everlasting arms.
mostly hate it… I admit to being a control freak, but i also recognize when it’s needed…
I say that I want it at any cost if it brings me closer to the Father, but when it comes to me, I am taken by surprise and feeling overwhelmed. Why is that?
How eloquently you worded something that we have all experienced in one way or another.
Thank you for sharing.
Pam
Wow change,
We have moved twice in the last 6 months and another move one year prior (so 3 moves in 1.5yrs). We just had our fourth baby on Saturday and my perspective is so different. Usually before a baby I nest like crazy because you know life will be busy and somewhat crazy after baby. Not so with this baby, life was so busy before, I had no nesting left, it was all spent on moving and settling in, and so now, two days after her birth, life feels like it is settling into place. The huge change of a newborn makes life feel less full of change. Enjoying every minute of this little bundle and looking forward to not moving for a while.
I am so happy you are writing a book!
I really don’t like change. I’m one of those “please let me keep everything under control” sort of people. I love predictability.
Evidently the Lord would like me to change – so He has changed things up a bit. With increasing health problems, my aging parents are requiring more of our time. Our nice, neat schedule has just flown to pieces.
I have found that if I can just relax into it, it goes well. It is when I try to wrestle control (or what I perceive is control) back that I lose sleep and drive everyone around me crazy!
I usually try to resist it. But I know it always ends up being what is best for me. God plans it that way. So with Him guiding it I can’t resist it.
I feel the same about my son and kindergarten and the new routine. I remember chatting with you right before school started about our mixed emotions, and now look at us with our new routines!
And I was just thinking the other day about how normal it feels for me to be working again. I had to try to remember — what did I do with my days when I was home full time? It’s amazing how we forget when the adjustment happens smoothly.
-elizabeth
I love it, hate it, dread it and crave it. And I’m about to dive into some SERIOUS change in the next few months. And I’m super excited about it!!
I have been through so many changes in my adult life…some bad…most good…I feel very blessed. Funny thing…it is still hard for me sometimes…causes me anxiety. But after taking the steps to make the changes I am always happy I did…its just right before that’s hard. Silly, huh?
When I’m struggling, change seems like a nightmare. But I when I’m not struggling, I anticipate change to the point of dreaming with my eyes open. I’m trying to be more steady in that.
i yearn for change in theory, but up close? it can petrify me. two sundays ago our senior pastor prayed, ‘God, you terrify me. You ask for things that are too big.’ and that pretty much sums up where i am right now. i refuse to make idols of my children, our safety, our stability, this comfortable life.
and yet the alternative has got me shaking even in my sleep.
I’ve thought about this post a lot since I first read it. It’s frustrating to think how much I get caught up in thinking about the future and miss out on enjoying the now. Thanks.
In theory in LOVE change. It keeps things fresh and new and exciting. In theory. When it comes right down to it, I don’t know that I embrace it as much as I would like to think. Now that I have children especially. I still love the exciting and the fresh and new, but I long for steady, routine and boring. It’s the day to day that keeps me sane. When I have too many days that are out of the “ordinary” I loose my focus, my sense of stability. Thanks for bringing it all into perspective today…
I LOVE this post! I relate to it so much. I just blogged about change just the other day! I love the calm and peace of things staying the same. It’s hard for me to not be fearful of change, yet sometimes I get restless for it. Hmmm. We are such complex creatures aren’t we?!