“There is a tendency to think of change as the enemy. Many of us are suspect of change and will often fight and resist it before we have even discovered what the actual effects will be. When change is thought through carefully, it can produce the most rewarding and profound experiences in life” (Marvin J. Ashton)
This is so true! Having my last baby naturally was one of the scariest changes I would ever choose, yet it turned out to be one of the "most rewarding and profound experiences" in my life. There are always scary changes around the corner and yet God gives us peace, comfort, guidance, and direction. Here is a story to illustrate...
“One warm Saturday in March, I was awakened by the morning sun shining in my face. While the rest of the family slept, I dressed and walked around the yard we were landscaping. … As I viewed the landscaping and our new home with all its projects, I felt a gratitude for the beauties of the earth and the happiness with which we had been blessed.
“My husband and I were celebrating our twentieth wedding anniversary, and we spent the rest of the day together. We had lunch at our favorite restaurant. We reflected on our years together, our conversion to the Church, the birth of our seven children, the goals and dreams we had realized. We remembered with fondness kneeling at the altar in the Salt Lake Temple nine years before.
“At the completion of our day, we prepared to attend the Saturday night session of stake conference. As we backed out of the driveway, I turned to Phil and asked, ‘Are you sure I look all right in this bright red blouse?’
“He replied, ‘You look beautiful in anything you have on!’
“Those were the last words I remember my husband speaking to me.
“As we drove down the boulevard toward the meetinghouse, a pickup truck pulled into our lane of traffic. The driver had attempted to pass several cars at a blind spot in the road. All efforts to avoid the head-on collision failed. Phil saw that the accident could not be prevented, and he threw himself across my body as protection for me.
“The next sound I heard was the rescue squad cutting the metal of our car. As I regained consciousness, I knew that my husband was gone. No one had to tell me. Yet as that knowledge came to me, a peaceful, calm spirit filled my whole body. ‘Phil is gone,’ the Spirit whispered to me. ‘Everything will be all right. Your life is in my hands.’
“In the midst of all the confusion, concern, and great loss, I understood as never before the peace to which Christ referred when he said: ‘Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.’ (John 14:27.)
“I had suffered a broken neck and several other injuries. But on the noisy ride to the hospital as I was questioned by the medical personnel and felt the concern of my bishop and stake president, I remained at peace. ‘Why is everyone so worried?’ I wondered. ‘Don’t they know everything will be all right?’ …
“When I returned home from the hospital, the anniversary card Phil had given me was lying on our dresser where I had left it four weeks before. I once again felt the Spirit of peace as I reread the words he had written: ‘I can’t comprehend what it will be like as this happiness and love continue to grow throughout the eternities. Much love, Phil’ ”Change happens. Here is a comparison to tennis that I like
(from http://beginningsnew.blogspot.com)
I'm not a good tennis player but one thing I do remember from tennis instruction in HS is the "ready stance." You're there with your racquet, facing the net, and you don't know what direction the shot will come from. So you're loose, mobile, knees bent, bouncing a little, just ready to go right, or left, or up, or down. If you knew where the shot would go, you'd already be set up for it. But the ready stance is for when you don't know. You're ready for anything.
I guess the key is knowing a shot is coming. Sometime, from somewhere, and staying loose & low. Not getting locked into one way of doing something, or one vision of how the future will turn out, not being complacent. Because stuff happens, things come, everything changes, and those who can't absorb or cope with change get really battered by life. So get ready to be ready, and trust that the Lord knows your life and what you can handle.
2 comments:
I love the tennis quote. I put it on the KIDZ blog. Another quote, that I think I'll use in the lesson is:
"Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what he is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the teaks in the roof and so on: you knew thatthose jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently he starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of - throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were going to be made into a decent little cottage: but he is building a palace."
-CS Lewis (love him)
Wow! You have had a lot on your plate. You have a wonderful way with words, and getting me to cry when I read your posts. My heart aches for Miss Mialee. There is a reason that you are her mom. I truly believe that God gives us 'our children' for a reason. You are the mom that will be the very best for Mailee.
I am thankful that you have support from your ward and friends.
Ditto to Crystal, I could help too, if I knew... call me!
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