LOUISE: Challenge of Change

As I was folding laundry the other day, I noticed how worn my bath towels were. Interesting. They were brand new when we moved into this house. I got them to match the tile in the bathroom. But that was years ago and I haven’t updated. I should have. The washcloths are even more ragged than the towels but I like them. They are soft and great for removing makeup. You don’t have to worry about stains. They’re already there! And even though I finally bought new towels to place in the hall bath for guests, I continue using the old ones because I don’t like change.

That’s right. Change. It’s difficult for many of us. Nor do I like making major decisions. For instance, my oldest son thinks I should buy a new car since I drive back and forth to Arkansas several times a year, but I like my old one. I know what all the gadgets and buttons are for and don’t want to learn something new. Even minor changes bother me. Recently, my microwave went out due to a power surge. I knew I couldn’t exactly replace it—been too many years. I didn’t want to get something different but I had to. And guess what—I got used to the new microwave immediately. So yes, I CAN change, I just don’t like it.

I think this is the way we get stuck in life at times. Things happen. Friends move away. Loved ones die. Families change. And if we don’t find a way to accept these changes, we often feel depressed and lonely. I don’t want that so I’m trying to make changes in my life. Positive ones. A few months ago I was walking daily on my treadmill when the belt became dangerously frayed. It took some weeks to get it replaced and I never got back into the habit of that daily walk. I plan to change that. My diet needs to change also. I absolutely love cheeseburgers and chocolate. I don’t see that I need to stop eating them completely, especially since this is my birthday month and I think I deserve to celebrate with a chocolate cake. But outside of special occasions, maybe I should cut back on this delicious delicacy. I want to be healthy.

I also want to have a positive spirit and a joyful heart. And if a few changes in my life will produce that, I’m willing to try. My greatest challenge came when my husband died. It took courage and work just to keep living life. To eat. To sleep. To do everyday things like shopping, cooking, driving and more. Grieving is difficult. It requires time and energy that most of us don’t have when our hearts are broken. I say all of this to remind each of us to be gentle and understanding when others are going through hard times. They may be like me and can’t handle change quickly or easily.

The way I see it, life is full of challenges and changes. But it’s also brimming with love, hope, joy and peace. Maybe not all at once. Maybe not just when we want it. But rest assured, when we are at our lowest—our worst—God comes near. We may not fully recognize or accept it right away. That’s okay. God is patient. God is kind. He loves us. He never holds a grudge. We may judge ourselves harshly at times, but our heavenly Father does not.

And the best part. God NEVER changes. I like that!