Change is a tricky thing. Sometimes it is good – a new job or promotion, a new house, new marriage, a significant weight loss. And sometimes change is not so good – a death, a move, a broken relationship, a sudden health crisis. And yet, other times change can land somewhere in between good and bad. It depends on where you are standing.
For example - A child going to kindergarten for the first time is a good change for the student. But it can be hard for the stay-at-home mom or younger sibling left behind. A job promotion is a good change for the employee but can be hard for his co-workers. A new house is an exciting change unless you are part of the extended family who now lives 2 states away and so on.
In the in between place (not wholly good and not completely bad) change comes . . .and you know it is coming . . . and you are sad . . .but there is not one single thing you can do to stop it . . .and you wouldn’t even if you could because for the person making the change it is a good thing.
Going to college is a good change for our youngest daughter whose last day of her senior year is Friday. She is scared but so ready for this next stage of her life. It is not as good a change for her mama who feels suddenly adrift and without direction.
Case in point: I have spent the last 17 years driving my girls to the private Christian schools where God called them. This phone-free zone is a place where we have talked all the way to school and all the way back – for 17 years. Driving my girls has framed my day and taken anywhere from 90 minutes to 2 hours of my day depending on traffic and weather. It has built relationship with my daughters and between them as sisters. All of this stops suddenly and abruptly on Friday. And I am not ready for this stage of our lives to be over.
Logically, I know all of the change that is coming is right and good and God’s plan for our lives. Children grow up, leave home, and find their way in the world. Emotionally I am sad and fighting the change. I find myself trying to slow down the clock and linger over every “last” – last choir concert, last art show, last theatrical production, the last drive to and from school.
I have to say that in the midst of so much change I am so thankful that our God is unchanging. Hebrews 3:18 tells us “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Malachi 3:6 quotes God as saying, “For I the Lord do not change. . .” And James 1:7 assures us that every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”
Precious Father – Thank you that for everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven. Please help us to see change as a way to draw closer to you. Lord, I am so thankful that you are the same yesterday, today and forever. Amen