Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
A Time for Everything
1 There is a time for everything,and a season for every activity under the heavens:
2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
This has been such a bittersweet few weeks for me. God has given our family an opportunity for change. If you know me, you know I'm not real keen on change. Yet, it seems over the past couple of years, that's all we have been doing!
My husband will be starting a new job soon. We will be uprooting our family and moving 5 hours south, and believe me, our roots are very deep and comfortable here.
(Writing that last part made me think of my ivy plant...indulge me in my randomness! I have one plant left from my mom's funeral in Commerce. It is a beautiful, healthy ivy. I have never been real talented at keeping house plants alive. I decided that this one, I was going to really try my best to keep it healthy. I was very successful at this for a year and a half. It has grown and thickened and I have been very proud of myself! Well, I had the bright idea to put a cross in the pot, as a more stylish support for the ivy. I was very careful with the roots and took great care to repack them and what not. Over the next few weeks, I watched 98% of the leaves fall off, followed by the stems turning black and dying. Sigh. I took it ALL apart, took the cross out, and replanted the few sprigs that were still alive. So far, it seems to be doing okay, but my once beautiful plant is now pretty pitiful to look at.)
I really hope that in a few months, my family is not pitiful to look at...stunted. This move will be a big shock for us. We have both lived within 30 miles of the hospital we were born in, our entire lives. The biggest move we ever have made, was 10 years ago when we moved 20 miles east! We are totally stepping out in faith that this will be a huge blessing for our family.
We have both changed a lot in the past few years. Maybe we are finally growing up. I hope that the time ahead of us is a great experience for us. I have no doubt it will change us, just like our experiences here have. Two years ago, I was most comfortable just being a wallflower. Okay, so truthfully, I STILL am most comfortable being a wallflower, haha...but the difference is that now I don't HAVE to be. Now, I have learned that I can be confident and be myself and that is okay! I don't have to be anything other than who I am, and people will either like me or they won't.
My time in this MOPS group has been the most affirming time of my life. I can't believe that I am having to let go. It scares me. What if I don't find more friends like ya'll? What if the people I meet aren't as accepting as you all are? What if they aren't as real and transparent? What if? What if? What if? These thoughts paralyze me if I let them. I ask that you all pray for me and the whole family, as we make this transition. Pray for us to find a church home where we can plug in and feel at home, and find an opportunity to serve. Pray for the girls as they start a new school and find their place there. Pray for the boys to adjust well. Pray for Daniel as he starts his new job. Pray that we find a buyer for our house, who will love it as much as we have.
I will certainly stay in touch with everyone and I promise to pray for you all. I know most of you know already that as I am leaving my coordinator role, that Sarah and Amber are stepping into the role as a team. I know they will do a great job. I'm excited to watch and see how the group changes and moves on in new hands. God has a purpose for all of this, and I know it is more perfect and more involved than we can even comprehend. Keep inviting more moms to join you at the meetings. We need to see our community full of strong, confident and believing moms. Reach out to each other even if it is out of your comfort zone. Take time for one another. Chat it up with each other on facebook. Be IN each other's lives.
So...I guess as my last "hand-off" of the MOPS group, I will hand over this blog as well. Please go to http://www.cindyonedayatatime.blogspot.com/ and follow my personal blog. I don't blog much on it but I bet I will start more now that I won't have this one anymore.
I love you all and am blessed to know you. Thank you for being a part of my life. (and don't forget me!)
Cindy
