If you’ve dropped by before, you know that my family has been in transition mode for quite awhile: 113 days our belongings have been in storage; but who’s counting? We house sat, we were nomadic, we rented a cottage for two months. We are in finally in our garden condo now. We don’t have internet yet so I am sitting at a local coffee shop using their free internet to write this post.
My husband and I began praying about the next step for our lives way back in April. Throughout this six month upheaval I have heard two statements again and again; whether it’s someone I know well or someone I’ve just met.
“I could NEVER do that!” “I don’t know HOW you are doing this!”
These statements are common because they reflect all of our hearts. Change is hard. Change is scary. Change takes a.lot.of.work.
You see, I could never do this either. Leaving our home of 15 years. Selling or giving away most of our furniture and other possessions. Donating dishes, clothes, decorator items that I really enjoyed. Lots and lots of change. When I have tried to live through these circumstances in my own strength I have either fallen apart under the stress of the change or melted into a puddle of tears. Only those two choices. Really.
So the response to those two statements is the same: ” I can’t do this either. It’s Jesus in me is doing this move thing. Not me.”
I am tired.
I cry. A. Lot.
I miss my home, my kids, my friends, my church community and our pets.
And then I am reminded of why we made this big move. This guy has been the servant leader of our family and it was time for him to fly.
I unpack a box, look inside and can see where this statue used to sit on top of our piano. (Which was invited to stay in our former home, now a rental.) Seeing this gift from a dear friend just undid me.
But then…a beautiful, still, small voice reminds me of why the gift was given. And in that same box is a book written by another friend. Another offering of love meant to encourage growth and change.
So I put them together and took this picture.
I am challenged to trust again. Trusting God with this new place. With this new season. With my friends far away. With friends I haven’t yet met. With my husband’s new job. and health. and my fears begin to fade…in the Light of His Word
“Behold, I will do something new. Now it will spring forth; will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.”