My youngest daughter has never liked change.  When Jill was a baby, she would set her sights on a goal and head towards it – usually something not child-friendly (like a hot cup of coffee) but she would not hear us say the word “no” and would proceed in her determined direction.  Jill did not like having her mind changed, or her direction altered.  Even today as an adult, she struggles with change (as do a lot of us!) but I must say she faces it when it is inevitable.  For instance, she pursued getting into veterinary school and when she couldn’t get in the first year she tried, she kept her goal in sight, but she changed the path she was taking.  Instead of a U.S. school, she took the road that went to Ross University in St. Kitts.

My middle daughter just embraced a new change.  Kristen and husband Ric moved to Oregon two years ago.  It is a beautiful part of the country.  After living in two places in the Portland area and trying two churches in attempts to make friends and fit in, they finally said “enough is enough.”  They packed up everything and are driving back to Michigan.  I also know someone who has a sister living in New Mexico who did the same thing.  After several years living far away from friends and family in Michigan, they too said it was time to move back.  My friend explained how the sister and her husband realized that they could keep on complaining about being far away and missing people here or they could just get on with it and move back.  They could have tried staying for a while but in a year or two, they might still be wishing they were back in Michigan and then realize they’d wasted two years wishing they were back instead of just making the choice to do it.

Things do not change; we change.  Henry David Thoreau

I don’t know about you, but sometime when I feel stuck in a rut, I realize it’s time to step back and look at what I can change.  It’s nonsense to wallow in discontent.

If we don’t change, we don’t grow. If we don’t grow, we aren’t really living.  Gail Sheehy

Do you know people who moan and complain all the time?  Let’s not be like that!  Sometimes just a change of attitude will make a whole situation brighter.  Perhaps you need to change the perspective you are taking and look at things in a different way.  Maybe you just need to pray for the courage to make the change you know needs to be made.  And you are not alone in this.  God is always there to help you change directions; pray for Him to guide you and strengthen you.

2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

2 Chronicles 30:9 For the Lord your God is gracious and compassionate. He will not turn his face from you if you return to him.

There is an often told joke in Michigan that goes: “If you don’t like the weather in Michigan—wait five minutes!”

Don’t wait to change 🙂

Just Laurel