Fall was slow in coming this year. Just last week, the trees in our part of the country were still green. Then, on a recent morning, as dawning light leaked through my window, I was surprised by a riot of color. The tree outside my window turned yellow overnight and jockeyed for position as most beautiful with the maple beside it.
Sometimes change comes so gradually we hardly notice it. At other times, change happens overnight.
Changes in Nature
Increasingly, I find myself noticing the cycles of nature. The progression of buds, growth, maturity, fading, and death (or seemingly so), then reboots and regenerates with the coming of spring. In many ways, our life seasons are similar.
Physical Change
Several days ago, I rushed to the UPS store after exercising at the gym. Those who work there know me, but the one who greeted me said, “Oh, at first, I didn’t recognize you.” Thankfully, she didn’t speak the silent “because.” However, I could guess. Because you look so sweaty, un-made-up, frumpy, dumpy, or worse, old! I suppose all could apply. I was certainly not at my best “fresh” from the gym.
Physical change comes despite our best efforts. Joints creak and ache. Vision dims. Stamina decreases. Creams or cosmetics that promise overnight restoration of skin or smoothing of wrinkles hardly ever live up to what they purport. Weight loss “tricks” or injections that guarantee amazing results carry unwanted side-effects and potential harm.
With physical change comes the realization that life is precious and brief. Instead of bemoaning change, wear it as a badge of honor, and with thanksgiving for God’s sustaining presence and grace.
Mental Change
Do you ever walk into a room and think okay, why am I here? Or open the pantry door when you meant to look in the refrigerator? If this doesn’t happen to you, please don’t tell me!
I jokingly say I lost half my brain when Jim died. He remembered details, like names and dates. I remember the big picture, along with random bits like what color someone was wearing. Together, we had a decent brain. Now that he is no longer here, I miss his memory for details, as well as his presence.
Emotional Change
I can’t talk about overnight change without thinking of the emotional change from January 3, 2024, to January 4, 2024. On the morning of January 3, I woke refreshed, looking ahead with the energized forward motion of a new year. At 2:00 p.m., my world turned upside down, when I found Jim’s lifeless body at the top of the stairs.
Emotional change knocks the wind out of your sails. While you may not have experienced the sudden death of a loved one, you can relate if you’ve ever received a devastating medical diagnosis, experienced an unexpected job loss, discovered betrayal, or been involved in a serious accident. Emotional change messes with your brain, and it takes a while to overcome the fog that shrouds your thoughts. But, with God’s help, you can move beyond the rampant emotions the come with overnight change.
Spiritual Change
For some, spiritual change comes overnight, with sudden enlightenment, a stirring of the Spirit within, an acceptance of Christ as Savior, or a recommitment to follow Him. For others, spiritual change is slower, resulting from deeper insights and God-given wisdom.
With age, we either become more aware of God’s great grace and forgiveness, or our hearts harden, full of anger and resentment, for a variety of reasons.
Today, decide to accept change, give thanks for it, and move forward with your hand securely clasped in the hand of the Father.
“Take notice! I tell you a mystery (a secret truth, an event decreed by the hidden purpose or counsel of God). We shall not all fall asleep [in death], but we shall all be changed (transformed)” (1 Corinthians 15:51 AMPC).
©CandyArrington
Candy Arrington is an award-winning writer, blogger, and speaker. She often writes on tough topics with a focus on moving through, and beyond, difficult life circumstances. Candy has written hundreds of articles, stories, and devotions published by numerous outlets including: Inspiration.org, Arisedaily.com, CBN.com, Healthgrades.com, Care.com, Focus on the Family, NextAvenue.org, CountryLiving.com, and Writer’s Digest. Candy’s books include Life on Pause: Learning to Wait Well (Bold Vision Books), When Your Aging Parent Needs Care (Harvest House), and AFTERSHOCK: Help, Hope, and Healing in the Wake of Suicide (B&H Publishing Group).
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2 Comments
this time of the year is my favourite! Often times we forget that great change is often the impetus for us to change to be more like Christ! As beautiful as fall is, it is a time of death to the beauty of what springtime had had brought us, now those beautiful green leaves are dying! Thank you for such a lovely post and the reminder that change can be good
Penny, thank you!