Joy in the Midst of change

This was written three years ago!

The Only Constant is Change!

About a year ago I was preparing for a move with a new baby.  This is not new, in fact we have done this five times out of six children. Change is our "normal".  This time the change caught me by surprise.  Six years prior we had moved out of our "big" town of 30,000 or so and into a smaller town eight miles east.  We lived off and on in a fifth-wheel for a year and had our Gypsy spirit satisfied.  

We settled into a small two bedroom rental house with a huge pink kitchen that I felt instantly at home in.  

We upgraded to a larger house several years later down the street and a year ago it went up on the market.  We thought we would be the buyers.  I am a close friend to familiar and see change often times as a necessary enemy. This often conflicts with the Gypsy in me. I wanted to stay in Troy. I love Troy for all of the reasons I love Idaho. It has an independent spirit, a small town feel and there were miles of wheat fields separating us from the hustle and bustle of town and college students.  Freedom.  

We were asked to move out instead of to purchase and we were headed for a move within ten days.  I had a husband working out of town off and on and continuing to work on his nonprofit, five boys ages 11-2, a three month old baby and 1,800 square feet to pack.  I also had construction workers in and out of our rental and no prospects of another house.  Through this insane six weeks we stayed in a friends extra house and within two weeks purchased a mobile home.  

It was a whirlwind. This whirlwind is called life.  The truth is, life is always crazy and always changing. It took me a long time to realize "things" weren't going to "calm down" because these things were part of life and life is crazy. We're blessed to be along for the ride, Lord willing, glorifying Him along the way.

Last summer in the midst of this bizarre "homeless but with a home" adventure my best friend sent me a link to these podcasts.  I had never actually listened to a podcast before (except for when my husband was interviewed on one) but checked it out.  I feel like my friend is always ahead of me a few steps or more, (for that I am grateful) and I checked out the link knowing it would be an encouragement during a pretty hard time. Was it ever. These podcasts last about 15 minutes and are made by a married couple with ten children (ages 2-Married adults) and they answer questions about homeschooling, family planning, how to raise children who are NOT AT ALL like you, how to conquer time management and have a new topic every week. One week a particular topic  hit close to home.  She was talking to mothers about dealing with the constant changes we face!  She said she was surprised for a very long time that she never "arrived".  She was always changing her homeschooling, her scheduling, her activities.  You name it.  I don't think her point (though I could be wrong) was that she was disappointed she wasn't perfect but more so that she thought she would get into her groove more, have things figured out a little more, but alas as soon as they are figured out it seems something will change. You get your two year old out of pull-ups and think life is finally going to get easier only to find out you're pregnant and know that morning sickness is just weeks around the corner.  

Your eight year old can finally read well enough to take on more independent schoolwork which will now free up a plethora of time for you to organize 3.5 million photos and maybe add a few buttons to those sad looking church shirts! Hey come to think of it, you think, "maybe I'll teach myself to sew or pick up scrap booking again!"  Maybe I'll just end up following around a one year old who keeps taking off her dirty diaper or hope dry erase markers aren't any match for my magic eraser and try to scrub the walls while trying to explain time zones to a six year old and convince a three year old the toilet doesn't need cleaning....really.  Life is always changing, our children are always changing and we need to change with them.

Today a dear friend asked me how I stayed joyful through all of my moves.  I almost snorted coffee out of my nose.  While I don't think we should make light of selfish hearts and pretend they don't bear any weight I do think we should laugh at ourselves.  I was wresting with resentment, fear, distrust, anger, fatigue and a MAJOR lack of joy during this last move.  I was.  Her question made me wonder what type of false impression I was giving via Facebook and I was considering adding a post of my dirty laundry, my carpets stained and matted with rice (which I am afraid there is no cure?) or perhaps I could share a funny story! Yesterday my three year old just up and punched his older brother at church...right after silently confessing our individual sins... Chew on that one for a while.  I think we all struggle with joy in change, joy in struggle and joy in general sometimes. But as I was reminding myself while reminding her, Joy doesn't have to be circumstantial- in fact if it is true joy, it can't be. 

I was going to post just part of Philippians 4 but there is so much wisdom here I couldn't.  Lean on Jesus to be satisfied in little, in plenty, in calm and in crazy.  He. is. enough.

Philippians 4

4 Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.

2 I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.

3 And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.

4 Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.

5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.

11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

14 Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction.

15 Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.

16 For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.

17 Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.

18 But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.

19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

20 Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

21 Salute every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren which are with me greet you.

22 All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar's household.

23 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.