Change Happens. Seasons Change.

It feels like I’m in the middle of another shift. I have come to a conclusion – my  physical body’s change cycle is on a 10 year rotation. I’ve never been one of those people who have a mini melt down because I’ve grown a year older. Honestly, I’ve never really thought about it beyond the fact that another year has passed. However, what sticks out in my mind are the changes my body has gone through. I distinctly remember after I turned 35, I couldn’t eat a large ‘The Works’ Papa John’s pizza, in a single sitting, without having to hide the evidence in my ‘pleasingly plump’ clothing. Yes, I have specific articles of clothing that are accomplices in hiding my crime of gluttony. Don’t judge me.

Now that I’m 45, I’m no longer a MRI virgin. I had my first MRI recently because for a couple of months I’ve been experiencing tingling in my right arm – from my shoulder to my fingertips. And…to top it off, I shared with my primary physician that I was having this pain in my left hip when I wake up in the morning. She nonchalantly commented – Yep, that’s arthritis. Really?! Make no mistake, I’m not complaining. Quite the contrary, I’m acknowledging that there are changes.

Change happens. Seasons change.

Ok, I have acknowledged these physical changes – now what? Wait a minute…there’s more. I’m sensing a change in my mental and spiritual being. What I have found in my personal journey, God gives you signs long before the change manifest. For me, two things I notice when I’m nearing the end of a season and getting ready for the next. #1 – HE starts moving people. #2 –  I experience an unusual restlessness that nags me until I deal with those things that I have purposely ignored. Procrastination is bad.

In the past, I have denied the obvious, made excuses, and tried to keep things as they were. Only to find that it made things uncomfortable and prolonged unnecessary stress.

The change that I’m sensing in my mental and spiritual being is the gift of acceptance. I’m grateful for this gift. So much so, that John and I celebrated by expanding our personal family this weekend.  We welcomed a new child – Mr. Bosley! Remember Charlie’s Angels? Mr. Bosley is a betta fish –      aka Siamese fighting fish. I’ve always wanted a pet named Mr. Bosley. I don’t know why – I just have. Of course, John didn’t know that ‘we’ were celebrating. He just knows that he has another mouth to feed.

To me learning to accept change is a gift and worth celebrating. Change is going to happen with or without you. You can choose to ignore it but it won’t stop it from occurring.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NIV) says ‘There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: speaks about seasons. There is a time for everything under the sun.’

At this stage in my spiritual journey, I find myself asking God to give me strength to let things and people go. Letting things go is not as tough as letting some people go. But, if God says it’s time, I will trust that it’s time because apparently those things and/ or people are not part of my next season. It’s OK! This life has a shelf life.  I’m learning to not waste time. I don’t know when my expiration date is but I’m going to pray that God helps me to move forward with only what I need for my next season.

FINAL WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT –   Philippians 4:13 “ I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”

Is He telling you to let go? Know this – God’s timing is perfect timing.