Changes

I've been thinking a lot lately about change and how change has affected my life. And, in turn, how the changes in my life affect those around me.

Some change is slow, such as the growth of children or grandchildren. How I cherished being home with our our sons around me, needing me, depending on me. How I loved caring for them, soothing their wounds, listening to their stories and jokes, reading their favorite stories over and over again. Ah, but time is a thief! Our oldest child is now 35 and our youngest, 21 and it truly seems as though they were little not so very long ago. Three of our four sons are married and have families of their own. Some of our grandchildren are on the cusp of their early teen years. Others are just babies but grow leaps and bounds on a daily basis, it seems.

Some change is pleasant, like my no longer needing to work outside the home. My time is my own pretty much but I so enjoy devoting myself to the care and nurturing of my Hero and grandchildren. I love being in a position to help my daughter's-in-love if they need me. But since I no longer have a paid career, I have been struggling and wondering just what to do with myself. I think I'm getting close to an answer. Perhaps there will be more on this in a later post.

Change can come upon you quickly. For instance, we had recent plans that needed to be changed and redirected toward a higher priority. In another instance several years ago, two of our sons experienced chronic health problems that affected their lives forever. This was an enormous and difficult change for our sons, as well as Hero and me.

Life itself changes and is bittersweet. This weekend we will be visiting my Hero's parents. They are truly an amazing couple - married and devoted to one another for more than 60 years, also devoted to their family and to God. Many years ago, they moved to another state several hundred miles away. This change was devastaing to us because we coveted the influence and blessing they had been to us and to our sons. We cherished them, [still do] and even today, we dearly miss their presence in our lives.

So, this weekend we will see Dad and Mom after not having done so in a long time and they will meet their youngest great-grandchild. Fitting, don't you think? My greatest desire is that all of us - Hero, me, their grandchildren and eight [almost 9] great-grandchildren - could visit with them so they can not only know but experience the amazing legacy they created. But, because of time and schedules and general busyness of everyday life, this seems an impossibility so I am thankful for the sweet blessing of this weekend.