Change: make or become different
Seems there have been a LOT of changes lately. Not necessarily big changes, but a steady stream of the smaller variety. Oodles of changes at work and quite a few in our family life.
I won't go into detail about the ones at work, as I believe going into detail about work online is a recipe for disaster. Suffice it to say, there are changes in our technology and procedures, changes in personnel, changes in our workspace as we are remodeling. Changes, seemingly all at once.
I won't go into too much detail about the family life changes, but they are rather numerous as well. Pete has gotten back into raising hogs this year. More feed, more chores, good fresh meat. Hannah is about to be a senior in high school and that entails lots of upcoming changes: driver's ed, more AP and 5.0 courses, gathering college financial aid and scholarship information, etc. Daughter-in-law has started a job, so PawPaw is watching Hazil until her daddy gets off work. Bubba is working back in this area instead of pipelining for now. Some days she is still here when I come in, some days not. That's another change, More family time, need a little more planning, less down time.
It's not that anything is a bad change, just that there are so many at one time it almost seems
overwhelming. So, you have to just sit back and ride each little ripple and wave of change and see where it takes you, what becomes of it.
The owner of our company's wife gave us all a monarch butterfly chrysalis this spring. Mine set on our dining room table for the first week, then I moved it to the kitchen window the second week, as it was so cloudy, rainy and overcast. One Sunday morning the chrysalis had turned very dark instead of it's jade green. When we were back from church and I went to the sink later to wash some dishes, I noticed movement. My butterfly had hatched from it's chrysalis! He was hanging on his perch, drying his wings. After a while, I took him out to the picnic table in the yard, as I didn't want him to try to fly in the house. I also didn't want a nosy kitty to get him or a bird to swoop down and eat him, so I baby set him while he stretched and dried. Pete, Hannah and a nephew of ours all observed him for a time. Hannah babysat him while I had to do a thing or two in the house. But most of the several hours it took for him to finish drying I was out there alone with him and my thoughts. The wonder of change, the metamorphosis that took him from caterpillar to butterfly, takes us from babies to adults, the spiritual metamorphosis that Christ leads us on. At the end, he flew up and then right down on my hand. Then he took off for the back porch rail. He sat there in the sun a minute or two, then straight up into a pecan tree. I never saw him again, but the time I spent with him that afternoon, coming to a total standstill, not "doing" anything. stays with me. I may yet get through the changes ahead.
The owner of our company's wife gave us all a monarch butterfly chrysalis this spring. Mine set on our dining room table for the first week, then I moved it to the kitchen window the second week, as it was so cloudy, rainy and overcast. One Sunday morning the chrysalis had turned very dark instead of it's jade green. When we were back from church and I went to the sink later to wash some dishes, I noticed movement. My butterfly had hatched from it's chrysalis! He was hanging on his perch, drying his wings. After a while, I took him out to the picnic table in the yard, as I didn't want him to try to fly in the house. I also didn't want a nosy kitty to get him or a bird to swoop down and eat him, so I baby set him while he stretched and dried. Pete, Hannah and a nephew of ours all observed him for a time. Hannah babysat him while I had to do a thing or two in the house. But most of the several hours it took for him to finish drying I was out there alone with him and my thoughts. The wonder of change, the metamorphosis that took him from caterpillar to butterfly, takes us from babies to adults, the spiritual metamorphosis that Christ leads us on. At the end, he flew up and then right down on my hand. Then he took off for the back porch rail. He sat there in the sun a minute or two, then straight up into a pecan tree. I never saw him again, but the time I spent with him that afternoon, coming to a total standstill, not "doing" anything. stays with me. I may yet get through the changes ahead. What types of changes are going on in your life right now? Do you usually handle change well, or do you find it upsetting?
Hey Barbara I really enjoy your posts. I am still trying to get my mother-in-laws stuff cleaned up from all the nicotine over the years (whatnots ..jeez is that the right spelling?) and all of the dishes in the cabinets and hutches. My skin is starting to peel from washing stuff for the past week. I have much more to go too and the sale is next Saturday. On top of that my mother just got out of the hospital with pneumonia and a urinary tract infection and on top of this she has dementia. I am in New York and she is in Texas so one of my sisters kept me informed through texting. I had 2 hours of sleep that night. Sorry, my list goes on as well but I do have a very supportive hubby.
ReplyDeletehttp://enchantedfantasies.blogspot.com/
I don't know which is more stressful: being the one running back and forth to the hospital, caregiving and dealing with all the issues, or being the one so far away anxious for news, worried and waiting.
DeleteSounds like you need to invest in a pair of rubber gloves from the Dollar store.
Seems you've been dealt a couple of rough changes close together.
Glad to know you have a supportive husband by your side!
How cool with the butterfly! You do have a lot of changes and new things or different things occurring your way. Can't believe your daughter will be a senior next year!
ReplyDeleteOur big change was moving down closer to family this past spring. We are having fun spending time with them, especially Sunday dinners, but still trying to get it all together without too much stress with the planning and orchestrating of it, but its definitely all good :)
betty
I can hardly believe my little Hannah Bug is a young woman! So far she is so well grounded. I am so very proud of her and enjoy her in so many ways. Seem just yesterday I was posting her letter about how to behave on the bus in this blog.
DeleteBeing around all our family can be exhausting, and very, very satisfying.
We are not big planners, we are more spur of the moment, day before people. Most of the time that works out great, but at times it can cause too much to be going on at once. Especially for Pete & I as we get older and more set in our ways.
Seems like it's that kind of time at the moment, lots of changes in the air.
ReplyDeleteIt does seem like "the year of changes". Every blog I visit, has a post or posts involving changes they are going through, seeking, and such.
DeleteI agree. Changes can be very overwhelming, especially when they all seem to come at once.
ReplyDeleteI am facing a lot of changes right now along with David. Like I said in a post not too long ago, it is very hard to go from the one doing the depending to the one depended on. These changes are scary. I don't know what "life after stroke" entails completely and I do not thrive with the unknown.
To answer your question, I do not do change well. I find them generally very upsetting. I like to know where I'm going, how and when I'm going to get there, and what is going to be there when I get there. Unknown scares me. I don't like being unprepared and unprepared is what I was for a stroke to enter our lives. I knew that one was a possibility. David has been at a high risk due to diabetes and high blood pressure and family history. I just thought we'd have more time before one hit. Then, it did hit and it wasn't just one. We were blessed, though. They could have been far more debilitating.
I feel all upside down and don't know where to aim, which way to go. I know He has this all covered, but I don't know what's ahead.
I know that none of us do.
Have a blessed weekend!
Ah, but you hit the nail on the head dear! He knows exactly what is ahead! 'For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.' - Jeremiah 29:11 (((Suz)))
DeleteLike the butterfly part. I'm one too who would have sat and watched it. Lots of health changes around here for me and John but I'm trying not to dwell on it.
ReplyDeleteThat's probably best when it comes to health issues. Simply do all you know to do for the issues and all the doctors suggest, say a prayer and then just go on as best you can. I pray you both more "good" days than bad.
DeleteA little change is good, a lot of it together can be overwhelming. Also depends on the type of changes - if I've sought them out then I cope with them better than having them thrust upon me.
ReplyDeleteLiked your telling of the butterfly afternoon, sounds like bliss!
It was beautiful and relaxing.
DeleteWhat a splendid symbol that butterfly was to the way you were feeling! Isn't nature wonderful? To show us in beautifully subtle ways that it's quite alright to be skeptical of change as long as we keep thinking the good thoughts about the outcome. I plan on enjoying nature myself this week while I'm in the mountains. In fact, I think I'll concentrate on butterflies :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing such a lovely story.
Thank you, Diedre! Glad you enjoyed it. I hope you also enjoy your mountain getaway.
DeleteSurprisingly (to me) I'm enjoying change in my life. I retired three years ago and that was the biggest change I'd had in decades. I've done a lot of change in what I eat -- much healthier -- and getting lots more exercise. I'm also thinking of changing the congregation I've been a member of for the last twenty five years. That would be a big change -- and not necessarily permanent -- but I realize that life is short, especially at 66, and there's not a lot of time to make changes.
ReplyDeleteGot to love your attitude about change! The big changes can be hard to make, but can be rewarding. About 13 years ago, I moved my membership from the church I'd belonged to since I was 11. It was hard to take that step. So many memories, so many people I loved there. But I felt God was wanting me to move my membership closer to where we live now. The church was still very small. I began the Children's Church ministry, with a lot of help from Christ Jesus! Smaller, more local people in the community Pete grew up in...eventually he went several Sundays and he and Hannah accepted Christ at the same time! Were baptized together. Bubba and Candi were married there, and still attend there with us. It was all for the good. God worked it all to the good.
DeleteWhat a beautiful story about the butterfly. Brought a tear to my already teary eyes. Don't know why every blog I read tonight has made me cry. I don't like change. I know it is necessary but I don't do change very well. I sure hope you have a wonderful week!
ReplyDeleteSome days are just like that. Seems our feelings are on our sleeve and everything touches us.
DeleteLife is full of changes and I guess that's mostly a good thing. I don't always like changes, but I always have survived them. When I don't survive a change here in this life then I guess that will be time for a whole new change.
ReplyDeleteArlee Bird
Tossing It Out
You have a great point, Arlee! Always good to have you drop by.
DeleteTrue, change affects us all. Sometimes you hate that to happen, but it's what makes life interesting. How boring if life were to remain constant with no new changes. But it is better when good changes happne. ;)
ReplyDeleteI love the butterfly story.
As for personal changes, not much going on here beyond my second (and last) son graduating High School. Your post reminds me of a poem I wrote a few years back, but I likened it to a kaleidoscope.
Hope all goes well for you. :)
I like the kaleidoscope idea! The way the pieces fall into place. And you have an excellent point about how boring our lives would be if change were never a part of them.
DeleteAs for me, life works as computer, no changes until it works )
ReplyDeleteWell, that's another perspective! Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteWhat a beautiful experience. Just to witness that miracle of nature, Barbara. I sense changes, and I can't see them. Instead of making me nervous, that unknown is calming me a bit. I'll be ready for whatever comes!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wondrous gift to find peace when facing uncertainty! I would say either you have an adventurous spirit or you are walking in step with the Holy Spirit. 😉 Maybe a mixture of both.
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