Shirley's Blog
October 22, 2022
I've faced many "unknowns," and I'm sure you have too. When my husband and I moved from rural Pennsylvania to Alexandria, Virginia, we wondered what life in a city would be like. When I was pregnant with our first child, I wondered what childbirth would be like.
Then there was the experience of facing a classroom of high school students for the first time. Caring for a sick child for the first time. And the list goes on.
Scary experiences, all of them. We wondered who we'd meet, how we'd be received and how we'd handle a new environment. But even though we left our family of birth behind, even though we never taught school before, even though we knew the experience held surprises—we were not alone. God walked with us.
Before the end of this year Bill and I will face a monumental change—moving from our home of 34 years to an apartment. It's exciting. But it's scary. Here's how I'm facing this major change:
--I'm confident we'll make new friends. We'll meet new people. Some will become good friends. And we'll enjoy having old friends come to visit. When we lived in Virginia, we toured Washington D. C. with friends who visited. It was great fun.
--I 'm confident God will help us make changes. New homes require new ways of doing things: We'll use an elevator (I was once trapped in one for more than an hour, so this is a bit scary.) New neighbors may not chat the way old neighbors do. But with God's help, we can navigate this new environment.
--I'm confident God will help us deal with any unpleasant changes that pop up. As my husband and I experienced scary physical changes, I wrote an "emergency plan" to avoid panicking. For instance, when my husband's blood pressure drops alarmingly low, I feed him broth and pretzels. I then read a page from an inspirational book that includes scripture and pray a written prayer, asking for God's help and peace. I know those steps are only common sense, but when I'm in a dither, common sense may fly out the window, so I like to have something on paper. God gives grace for every situation.
--I'm confident God will bless our move. I expect to love living in an apartment. I will miss watching the wildlife in my backyard, but our apartment will be on a fourth floor, so I'll be able to look out over our town. Even in challenging situations, it's possible to find blessing. For instance, deaths in a family may restore relationships that had soured. I've seen that happen. I've noticed parents who care for a handicapped child open their hearts to love in a deeper way. God certainly works in mysterious ways.
--I'm confident God works all things—ALL things—together for our good. "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31) So I'll look to Him each day, asking for grace to proceed.
At my age and stage, unknowns loom large. So I've written this blog to remind myself that no matter what, God holds me, guides me and comforts me all along life's journey. And He does the same for you.