“Give your entire attention to what God is
doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen
tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the
time comes.” Matthew 6: 34 (MSG)
Question: What has uninvited change taught you in your own
life? How can you better embrace it?
I can try really hard to plan and map out my days on this
spinning world, but I will never have a perfect day where everything goes as
planned. I can’t recall a day where every hour ended up with a neat little bow
on top. I am not saying to throw out the day planners, vision boards, and all
ambitions in this life…but hold them loosely.
Hold them loosely and take each day as it comes. One day at
a time. After my Nana and Papa fell in Vegas this became almost a mantra in my
life. There was a period of time where I was moving through the day, but
anticipating death. Death was near and for the first time in my life I had to
admit it was going to happen. One day at a time. After I was diagnosed with a
birth defect that required surgery to correct, this became a solid statement in
my life. Through doctors, tests, unknowns, and recovery…one day at a time.
That is how I embrace the uninvited bumps, turns, and
surprises of life. One day at a time. I am a pessimist at heart, or as I like
to say a realistic thinker. I like to take sky high dreams and crash them back
down to reality. A real problem for the dreamer in me, but it is also a gift. A
gift that allows me to roll with the punches when the fire comes and respond in
gratitude when unexpected happiness comes along. One day at a time. I lay down
my plan, my ideas of the day and open my hands to receive whatever may come and
ask for the strength and gratitude to walk through it.
Sounds nice and pretty, but more often than not when things don’t just go south
but also hit the fan, I go down. My anxiety kicks in and the fog tunnel of a
panic attack settles over me and everything moves in slow motion. I am not the
best at taking one day at a time, as the days blur and before I know it a year
has gone by. It is too easy for me to get distracted by the trials and even by
the blessings in this world. I get flack for saying this, but I believe God is
in everything. Sin does not win. The darkness of night and trial does not win.
God uses all things for good, even the bad; He is present in the darkness. He
can withstand all, because He overcame it all.
“Indeed, an hour is coming, and has come,
when each of you will be scattered to his own home, and you will leave me
alone. Yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. I
have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have
suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.”
John 16:32-33
“We know that all things work together
for the good
of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.”
Romans 8:28
“For we do not have a high priest who is
unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every
way as we are, yet without sin.” Hebrews 4:15
With Him in me I will see the dawn. And when the light is
shining bright I also have the strength to stay down on my knees. Thankfulness.
Gratitude. That is how one day at a time, can actually become a reality. On my
knees in surrender and thankfulness for the dawn. Unexpected and uninvited,
become a welcome opportunity for growth and change. Painfully hard to live out,
but that is how a life changes. Work=Pain=Growth.
This is how to grow.
This is a beautiful life.
Don’t miss because it is causes soreness, it is worth it to
wake up.
- Hannah
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