Facebook memories got me nostalgic today….
Ten years ago when we moved to this small town, I thought I had really arrived in life. Not because of the location, though I do love it here, but because I had everything I’d hoped for in life. I was married. Had three beautiful boys. We moved to a big, beautiful house with a big, beautiful yard and an inground pool. We had good jobs and good friends. I was close to my family again. The cost of living was lower, allowing me to work less than full-time hours and be more present in the kids’ lives. Life was good.
Or so I thought.
Five years ago, I found myself divorced with three heartbroken boys and a newborn baby girl. I moved us from that big burdensome house because it was more than I could feasibly do on my own while single-parenting four kids. I put up walls around my heart because I no longer trusted anyone, and only the absolute closest of friends and family were allowed in. Cost of living didn’t seem as low when we became a single income household. Life was hard.
Or so I thought.
Today, I am single and happy. The kids and I have a good life, even if it looks nothing like I imagined. We live in a charming rental house that was God-sent and has been a blessing in so many ways. We’re not wealthy, but we have everything we need and a lot of what we want. My walls aren’t as fortified as they once were – I’d say they’re more guarded now than completely off-limits. The hard times taught me invaluable life lessons. I can budget like nobody’s business. I juggle schedules like a boss and make it to as many of the kids’ activities as is humanly possible. I am present and proud. Life is what we’ve made of it.
This I know…
Priorities change. Perspectives change. Life goals change. Dreams change. Seasons change. People change. We change. Life changes us.
God never changes.
When life is good. When life is hard. When people fail us. When we fail people. When we have much. When we have little. He is there.
Ten years, five years, today. Yesterday, today, and tomorrow. He was, is, and will be the constant.