Grads -- Your Future is So Bright, You Need Shades

I have been enamored by all the graduation photos of all who are celebrating this momentous time of the year! Congratulations to all of you -- children AND parents. It's a great feat to have made it to this Rite of Passage that took a village to see it through. I know. I've been there too.

Graduation Day is so exciting! The ceremony is filled with speeches about pursuing your dreams, trusting yourself, taking risks and embracing change. Graduates get to celebrate the past and look forward to the future. This year, my granddaughter graduated from high school. I’m so proud of her. Right along with those who celebrated their child being the valedictorian of their class, I celebrated that my granddaughter was the valedictorian of her class – she was home-schooled. I have a great, great nephew and many family friends who are also graduating.

Whether they are getting ready to go to college, pursuing lofty goals and dreams or are sashaying into the next season of their lives, they all have expectations of how their lives are going to go. They've pictured it in their heads. Some pictures are of traveling the world or pursuing a dream job. Some pictures are of a white picket fence with four beautiful, well-behaved children and an always-loving husband or wife, and some see themselves owning a Fortune 500 company by the time they turn 25. And, there is absolutely nothing wrong with pursuing their dreams, but as those of us older, wiser folks know, those dreams may be absolutely opposite of what God's plans are for their lives and so we pray that all of these wonderful graduates pursue God's will first and foremost -- to be God-pursuers.

To all Graduates and Dreamers – keep these words in mind – “Before you ever came into being, God called your name. He formed you with love and intricately designed part of who you would become. You truly are made "in an amazing and wonderful way" (Psalm 139:14). Your journey on this path is not by coincidence. You are here because God looked out over all of history and chose you for a particular time and purpose. You could have entered the world a hundred years ago or a thousand years from now. But you are in this generation, this time, and there will never be another you or another opportunity to do what only you are chosen to complete. So go out there in boldness knowing that you don't have to be like anyone else. You don't have to do what any other person has done. You are chosen for one life — yours. And the wonderful news? Whatever God chooses for you to do, He will equip you. Being chosen means you will be given all you need. Being chosen means that success is simply obedience and trusting God will do the rest. Being chosen means that you have a great big God as your partner every step of the way. Those who love you will be cheering you on every step too! The best is yet to be for you and we can't wait to see it unfold.

Dreamers and Graduates -- you are chosen for one life - yours. God gave it to you. Now show off that life by making it the best life it could ever be for God, others and YOU!

Embracing Change

This week the Wallace clan, Denise and myself are engaged in Payton and Alexia’s Speech and Debate competitions. This is my 3rd year to serve as a judge and I love it. I’ve not only watched the growth, physically, in Payton and Alexia (the photos tell the tale), but their growth in their confidence, articulation and knowledge since their start of this season of their lives. I’m embracing the changes that have made them so much better.

My post today is about welcoming change. I’m saying that because what we don’t welcome, we tend to unwelcome, or resist! I’ve come to realize that change can be a beautiful thing. Why is it that some embrace change while others do everything in their power to prevent it? It boils down to perspective.

I've developed a way of positively viewing change in my life. Watching the love of my life pass away was one of the most life-changing times of my life. When he took his last breath, of course I had mixed feelings. I had joy that his suffering was over, but painfully aware that he was no longer here with me. Talk about change. That morning I was married, and that night I was a widow.
I think I've mastered the art of "change", so much so that I can share some of the "change" lessons I've learned to help others with change:

1. Life is About the Cycle of Life -- When we realize the cycle of life is part of our journey of life, we'll embrace every moment we have with each other. Enjoy the good times, and realize the not so good times are just temporary.

2. Wisdom is Earned -- There is no amount of money in the world that would convince me to go back in time. I am so happy to be where I am, and to have the knowledge that I have. I EARNED where I am, and the wisdom I've achieved was through change and experience. LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL!

3. Learn To Let Go -- Some might say, "That's easy for you to say. I don't think I can handle it!" And my response, "Oh, yes you can. God's grace will be with you and you will make the necessary changes. God gave your children, your friends and loved ones to you for a season. Now free them to live in their season. Accept it, and move forward. When a loved one goes HOME, their assignment on earth ends. Their race ended. Our assignment continues. This is OUR race -- we MUST keep running to our finish line.

4. Change Always Leads to Good -- The reality about change is we just may not like it, but, inevitably it leads to something good. I look back at my life and I see a common trend. When something “bad” happened, it always resulted, eventually, in taking us to a better place. The tough times didn't last for us, but we became tough people....and THAT HAS lasted. Today, I'm ONE TOUGH COOKIE!

I promise you.....the ability to go from resisting change to embracing change can happen, but we must let go and surrender “our ways and our plans” to “God’s ways and God’s plans”. Jeremiah 29:11 clearly gives us God’s way “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.” What an amazing trade off...to be in His ways. That gives me every reason in the world to say God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.”

Embracing Change

Day 73 of Photo Inspirations -- Embracing Change
A lot of trees were there before the CHANGE came for the land to become a shopping and entertainment area.  Yesterday, when I returned home from Texas, just north of my subdivision, this new store, Gander Mtn, having its Grand Opening.  I stopped in to see all the excitement -- the place was overcome with droves of people checking it out.  

Hunting and fishing equipment, archery, boating, running -- you name it, they've got it, at least when it comes to needs for enjoying the great outdoors!  Soon there will be a 12-screen theater, restaurants and retail stores in that area. Things have sure changed around here.

My post today isn't about trees or Gander Mtn.  It's about welcoming change.  Change is a beautiful thing, but often we resist change. Why is it that some folks can easily embrace change while others do everything in their power to prevent it?  It boils down to perspective. We can welcome change or we can resist it and become stagnant, accomplishing nothing -- not moving forward at all.

I've developed a way of positively viewing change in my life.  Watching the love of my life pass away was one of the most life-changing times of my life.  When he took his last breath, of course I had mixed feelings. I had joy that his suffering was over, but painfully aware that he was no longer here with me.   Talk about change.  That morning I was married, and that night I was a widow.

I think I've mastered the art of "change" -- enough so, that I can share some of the  "change" lessons I've learned to perhaps help you with change:
1.  Life is About the Cycle of Life -- When we realize the cycle of life is part of our journey of life, we'll embrace every moment we have with each other.  Enjoy the good times, and realize the not so good times are just temporary.

2. Wisdom Is Earned -- There is no amount of money in the world that would convince me to go back in time. I am so happy to be where I am, and to have the knowledge that I have. I earned where I am, and the wisdom I've achieved was through change and experience.   WOW -- LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL!

3. Learn To Let Go -- Some might say, "That's easy for you to say.   I don't think I can handle it!"  And my response, "Oh, yes you can.  God's grace will be with you and you will make the necessary changes.   God gave your children, your friends and loved ones to you for a season.  Now free them to live in their season.  Accept it, and move forward.  And when a loved one goes HOME, their assignment on earth ends.  Our assignment continues.  This is OUR race -- we MUST keep running.

4. Change Always Leads To Good -- The reality about change is we just may not like it, but, inevitably it leads to something good.  I look back at my life and I see a common trend. When something “bad” happened, it always culminated in the realization that took us to a better place.  The tough times didn't last for us, but we became tough people....and THAT HAS lasted.  I'm ONE TOUGH COOKIE!

I promise you.....the ability to go from resisting change to embracing change can happen, but maybe not overnight.  And it wasn't overnight that all those trees came down, that buildings and houses and roads were put in.  But today, there are bright lights all around that represent the beauty of the changes.  Now, look at the bright lights of change in your world.  You'll find them -- just be willing to CHANGE!  #Change #LifeIsBeautiful #ToughCookie