Reality Check

This weekend, God used other peoples circumstances to give me a reality check. I was getting a little sappy about my oldest leaving for college this week, and dwelling on all the changes that are coming our way.

On Friday night, during family devotions, I looked around at all of my kiddos safe and “home” on the couch while Peter read the Bible to them, and I thought “This is our last Friday night together before things change.” Saturday morning, we headed to Boston, and it was the same thing. “This is our last Saturday outing together before things change.”  Sunday morning, ditto.

I did some “helicopter mothering” via Facebook. I scoured looked at Rebekah’s future roommates’ profiles. I actually thought of calling the Dean of Women with my concerns. Pathetic, I know.

God really convicted me about my lack of gratitude  and trust and my abundance of dread and fear.

Things are going to change, sure. But God is still in control. And. I. am. not.

I am not.

I was convicted because my “problems” are not problems. They are changes. Emotional, yes. Serious, no.

Convicted as I was reminded of other people are who are truly  going through serious changes right now.

I was reminded of Jon Bixby and his seven children who recently lost his wife Amy to cancer. (If you didn’t read Amy’s last post, The Valley of the Shadow of Death you really, really should.)

I just learned of a friend of Peter’s whose wife was just diagnosed with systemic cancer. They have 11 children.

And one of Peter’s good friends from high school is in the Army and is being sent back to Iraq.

These are serious.

So, in the next few days, I am going to embrace the changes as God sent with thankfulness.

I am going to choose joy.