Don’t Make Me Change!!!

What is it about the human pysche that abhors change? I’m tired today. I faced a lot of change, just running errands. Three bad changes, and one admittedly awesome change.

The first was the massive re-arranging of my local grocery store. Really!? Why, SuperOne, why!? Why are all the organic products placed randomly throughout the store on bump out shelves in every single aisle? What is the rhyme and reason? Why are the chips now in aisle 2 instead of the last aisle? What was wrong with the deli in the back of the store and why in the world is there now a big DITCH in the middle of the produce section!? I can only assume several, oh-so-intelligent men who never grocery shop, EVER, EVER, EVER, decided on this change.

Then I went to Wendy’s for lunch. Wendy’s. Who has the best fries in the whole world. And has had the best fries in the whole world for like, what? 25 years? Now they have, “natural cut fries with sea salt.” WHY!? They’re ok, but they’re not the best fries in the whole world anymore.

And of course, we can’t fail to mention the wonderful, changeable weather here in Duluth. Yesterday I enjoyed a perfect Spring day. 73, balmy, sunny. Today, 35 mph winds, 36 degrees, driving rain. Glad I didn’t let Nathan put my down coat away yet.

I admit, all this frustrating change was getting me down until I went to Target. Have I ever said before that I love Target? Yeah, I do. I loved it when they “changed” and got a grocery section, and today I noticed where an exit used to be there was a new sign behind a piece of plastic. Oh. My. Word. What was that sign, shining like a lighthouse of hope in my future? STARBUCKS!!!! Yes!!! Yes!!! Yes!!!! At last. A good, fabulous, fantastic change in my world! I can shop at Target to my heart’s content AND get a cinnamon dolce latte on my way out!

Change is inevitable in our world and I suppose we might as well get used to it. Those who are flexible, roll with the changes and even learn from them. Those who are stubborn and hard, only get broken by change. I saw a bumper sticker the other day that made me laugh. It said, “Blessed are the flexible, they never get bent out of shape.”

So, I guess I can learn to navigate my new grocery store, and put on my stupid coat and scarf again, AND ok the fries were alright. And I can definitely get behind a Starbucks at Target. And the bigger, less fun changes in my life, well, maybe I can learn from them too.

Grow or get out of the way.

Remembering; Rejoicing

Today is a bittersweet day for my family. Five years ago, my 26 year-old cousin, Beckie, lost her battle with cancer and went home to heaven. For everyone who was privileged to know Beckie, of course it’s always hard because we miss her.  But, we also are able to look back on her life as an incredible gift.

Sometimes when someone dies young it seems like such a tragic waste. The young person has often not done very much yet or has lived selfishly for themselves. My cousin, Beckie, however, was an extraordinary young woman. In her short life she inspired everyone who knew her to live more fully, to know God better, to be unselfish. In short, hers was an unwasted life. Beckie’s life was lived for others, for the glory of God.

Beckie’s life verse was I Thessalonians 5:16-18, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Such small words packed with such enormous implications.

Rejoice. ALWAYS.

Pray. WITHOUT CEASING.

Give thanks. IN EVERYTHING.

One small thing I remember that made a huge impact on my life was that Beckie made it her goal to thank each and every person who gave care to her in the hospital; from the nurse who gave her her chemo drugs, to the worker who brought a lunch tray in. At the time I was going through many surgeries myself. Shortly after Beckie’s funeral, I underwent an extensive surgery and hospital stay. I remembered this verse and Beckie’s example and even in my pain and drugged state I thought, “If Beckie could do this while going through chemo, so can I.” I tried to remember to thank the nurse who drew my blood (ick) and the guy who brought me yucky hospital food and especially the ones who gave me pain meds!

Rejoice. Pray. Give thanks.

In the good times and the bad.

When she was in the hospital I made Beckie a quilt. It was called “Tea in the Garden.” I tried to include lots of bright colors and flowers since she was in isolation and couldn’t go outside that spring. After her death, I was privileged to receive that quilt back. Today I sleep under it at night and am reminded of Beckie’s amazing life and her Savior she served who made her life possible.

I am grateful I knew her. Grateful for the summers on Old Hickory Lake in Nashville. Grateful for her example.