Change. I don’t know why for many of us our gut instinct is to resist change, and we may feel a negative twinge when we know it is inevitable. I think it often happens before we are even born, or it certainly seemed to for my first-born child. He was due July 27 and didn’t decide to make his entry into the world until August 7th on a very hot Oklahoma summer day with the temperatures hitting over 100 degrees. His father and I were on our knees praying the night before that he would decide on his exit strategy or the next day the doctor was going to make the decision for him. And it worked!!
He didn’t know that his new ‘home’ would have so many improvements. There was plenty of room to stretch out, he would be able to expand his palette, there were soft blankets to be wrapped in, people to ooh and ahh over him, and best of all a Mommy and Daddy to snuggle, love, and care for his every need. What a wonderful world it was just waiting for his big debut!
I am exploring this idea/analogy and wondering if it is simply in our DNA to resist things that are different and new, even though many times the change brings opportunity for improvement. One thing I know for sure is that change is always hard. That doesn’t mean it can’t be good though.
I have just finished up a season of getting my six children through their primary and secondary education years. I can hardly believe this time has arrived! Our firstborn started kindergarten 33 years ago and our youngest graduated in May. That is a long time to be thinking about education, books, school supplies, schedules, teachers, back-to-school clothes, parent-teacher orientation, homework, report cards, emails, extra-curricular activities, carpool lines, packing lunches, and school-night routines. Although I won’t have all of those items on my to-do list any longer, I still have the next four years of helping guide our youngest child through her formative college years. I have edited many college papers in my career as a mother, and fully expect to have a few more opportunities to make some good grades. I am determined that WE will finish well!
Many people have asked me what I will do with myself and wonder how I’m doing, knowing that this season will bring a lot of change. I have been asking myself the same thing, knowing that I may have some tearful moments ahead, but not because I’m sad that my children have become strong, independent, hard-working, responsible citizens. This is what I have worked for! We raise our children to be able to stand on their own two feet, take care of their own needs, and fulfill their God-given purpose in this world.
The changes that I dread are things like not hearing their voices at the beginning of each day, seeing their faces as they go about their routines, and having them around at the end of the day, knowing they are safely tucked in their beds with me making sure I have done everything I can to take good care of them another day. This has been my calling for a long time. I will miss having my children near! However, I will have more opportunity and time, I hope, to make my requests known to God, asking Him and trusting that He will be there to meet their needs and send people along their path to support, encourage, and help them when I’m not there. I know He loves them so much more than I can even imagine.
I will remind myself of what I have told my children many times: Change is always hard. That doesn’t mean it is a bad thing. There are always good things that come with change and I will be expectantly looking for those new things. It may take some effort on my part to make the adjustments and my new routine the best that it can be. I know I will need to remind myself that my hope, true joy, and fulfillment of purpose come from my Lord and Savior and not try to find my contentment through others.
One of my favorite verses that has brought me peace throughout different seasons is: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28
Whatever changes you may be experiencing in this season, I hope you will join me in looking for the beauty in all things even when it’s hard. We can trust our loving Heavenly Father to do a good work, no matter what the circumstances.
“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens” and “He has made everything beautiful in its time.”
- Ecclesiastes 3:1, 11
Meet the author!
Jackie Green wears many different hats as she navigates writing, speaking, organizing events for women, being a wife, mother to 6, and GiGi to 8. She is the co-founder of Museum of the Bible and has served on the board of several organizations. She is also the founder of Women of Legacy—an effort to help women discover and leave an eternal legacy. She has been married for 40 years to her husband, Steve, whom she actively supports in his role as President of Hobby Lobby and Chairman of the Board at Museum of the Bible. She has co-authored two books: “This Dangerous Book” (with Steve Green) and “Only One Life” with an accompanying "Legacy" Bible study guide (with her daughter, Lauren Green McAfee). Although she enjoys traveling and meeting people worldwide, her favorite place to be is home with her family.