CHANGES THAT AFFECT OUR LIVES

It won't be long before the season begins doing what it has done for thousands of years...that is change. This particular season, fall, is my favorite. As we watch the changing of the colors of the leaves of the trees, I'm reminded of the fact that really nothing stays the same. Everything is changing. Some of the things that change, we wish that they wouldn't change. Others things change, maybe for the better. As a child growing up in church I remember being in a church with no cushions on the pews, no air conditioning in the hot summer, no adequate heating in the winter months. I'm so glad some things have changed! The question is ; How do we deal with the changes that affect our lives when the unexpected changes occurs? The loss of a loved one or the loss of our independence? Physical setbacks or people that seemingly walk out of our lives or simply don't seem as interested as they once did? These are just a few of the ongoing changes that happen in the seasons of our lives. How do we respond? Too often, these changing dynamics of life cause unwanted and unneeded feelings to surface. We become angry or upset or bitter because LIFE has changed or people, seemingly, have changed. Or our health or our independence or our abilities to do some things we used to do have 'Changed'. We all face these or will face these 'Changes' of life. We cannot stop the changes in our lives anymore than the changing of the seasons. However, we can maintain a right and proper attitude during these times. The choice is ours. That's why the Psalmist said.. 'This is the day the Lord has made let us REJOICE and be GLAD in it'. Each day, with the changes that come, we must make a determined effort to realize, This Day..is from the Lord.. This Day I will choose to REJOICE and this Day I will be GLAD in it. No, not for some things that have changed in our lives that we don't ENJOY but ENJOY the Lord who has given us another day.