Change can be Good

We've come to the end of another Thanksgiving weekend--the first Thanksgiving in many years that we've stayed home for the holiday. Usually we travel over the mountains, through the woods, and on the ferry to my parents' home on Washington's Olympic Peninsula.

This year, Mom wasn't feeling up to having company. Understandable. She's still recovering from a mastectomy in August on top of the ongoing demands of caring for my dad who has dementia. I left the decision about Thanksgiving to Mom. We didn't want to add an iota to her already overloaded plate of responsibilities...even though I would've loved to cook up all the traditional Thanksgiving fixings for her and Dad.

One night after I talked with Mom, I woke up with that unsettled feeling that I've experienced more frequently. I recognize what it is--anxiety about my parents and how I can support them. Almost immediately, a phrase popped into my sleep-clouded thoughts: Change can be good. I remembered Patsy Clairmont at Women of Faith speaking about change and the positive outcomes it can bring. 
 
Sometimes we get tunnel vision and we only see the bleakness of a situation. Dad and Mom alone on Thanksgiving...would Mom even want to cook? What if they had to resort to frozen dinners? That's when I realized I don't always consider the God- factor...how might He use this for good? How will the situation change when He shows up? What if the change I've been dreading or feeling sad about is the change that is most needed?

It all comes back to trusting God...no matter what is happening around me. I must believe He will always be there. He knows all the ins and outs of every circumstance. My abilities and resources are limited. His are boundless.

When I called Mom on Thanksgiving, I asked her if she was cooking.  No...she didn't have to do any cooking. Her neighbors were bringing Thanksgiving dinner. "They insisted," Mom added.

Wow! The Lord had taken care of Dad and Mom without me making any arrangements. Changing our Thanksgiving plans had given Mom a much-needed rest--and the ability to be blessed by her neighbors. I breathed a sigh of relief and made a mental note to remember--yes, change can be good!

Is there some change in your life you're dreading? How does considering the God-factor help you face uncertainty?