Ready or Not — Here Comes Change!

Change: to make (something) different from what it is or from what it would be if left alone

Speaking of CHANGES…..I was born and raised in Dallas when there were still trolleys here. Yikes! Trolleys stopped running in the 50’s — a hint just how old this ole’ gal is. I remember those rides with my daddy. If I had been in a time sleep from then to now, I wouldn’t recognize my city. I live in Frisco now, which is just north of Dallas. This once sleepy little farm town of Frisco, is the 4th fastest growing cities in the U.S. It’s a magnet for new businesses and residential home purchases. CHANGES!

My post today isn’t about fast growth in our cities. It’s about welcoming CHANGE. Our lives really are seasonal and when we are unwilling to accept change, we become stagnant in our physical, spiritual and mental state. To come into a new season and to grow in our faith, we must let go of the old one. Isaiah 43:18 says, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.” One of the many lessons life teaches us is to let go. Whew! That’s not an easy one when we’re sending our little ones off to school for the first time or for our high schoolers to go off to college and leave the nest. It’s okay to be inclined to feel the pangs of what once was, but NEVER should we stay there.

I’ve developed a way of positively viewing change in my life. Watching the love of my life pass away was one of the most life-changing times for me. When he took his last breath, of course I had mixed feelings. I had joy that his suffering was over, but painfully aware that he was no longer here with me. Talk about change. That morning I was married, and that night I was a widow. Now, I think I’ve mastered the art of “change” — enough so, that I can share some of the “change” lessons I’ve learned to perhaps help you with change:

1. Life is About the Cycle of Life — When we realize the cycle of life is part of our journey of life, we’ll embrace every moment we have with each other. Enjoy the good times, and realize the not so good times are just temporary.

2. Wisdom Is Earned — There is no amount of money in the world that would convince me to go back in time. I am so happy to be where I am, and to have the knowledge that I have. I EARNED where I am, and the wisdom I’ve achieved was through change and experience. LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL!

3. Learn To Let Go — When I hear, “That’s easy for you to say. I don’t think I can handle it!” And my response, “Oh, yes you can. God’s grace will be with you and you will make the necessary changes. God gave your children, your friends and loved ones to you for a season. Now free them to live in their season. Accept it, and move forward. And when a loved one goes HOME, their assignment on earth ends. Our assignment continues. This is OUR race — we MUST keep running. Let them GO!

4. Change Always Leads To Good — The reality about change is we may not like it, but, inevitably it leads to something good. I look back at my life and I see a common thread. When something “bad” happened, it always led us to a better place. The tough times didn’t last for us, but we became tough people…. THAT HAS lasted. I became ONE TOUGH COOKIE!

I promise you…..the ability to go from resisting change to embracing change can happen, but maybe not overnight. And it wasn’t overnight that all those trees came down, that buildings and roads and highways were put into and through my city. But today, there are bright lights all around that represent the beauty of the changes. We must surrender “our ways and our plans” to “God’s ways and God’s plans”. Jeremiah 29:11 clearly gives us God’s way “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” What an amazing trade off…to be in His ways.

Now I pray this prayer: “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot CHANGE; courage to CHANGE the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.” Now, look at the bright lights of change in your world. You’ll find them — just be willing to CHANGE!