learning curves...

There have been a lot of changes in my life in the last few months.


And with change, comes learning. So I find myself in the midst of lots of learning curves...and feeling some growing pains as a result. Some changes are sweet, some are bitter, all are necessary and I welcome each one.


The biggest change has been watching our daughter become a wife, and welcoming a son-in-law. This one is solidly in the "sweet" change category. The Hubby's grandmother once told me she preferred the term "in-love" rather than "in-law" and I have to say, I agree with her. This young man is now our son in love. We love him because our daughter does, and we love him because he loves our daughter. A dear friend said to me, "When you see your child loved, the way you always hoped they would be loved, the person who loves them that way becomes irresistible to you." This rings true to me.


Another change has been my calling to head the young women's organization in our church congregation. This means that I am responsible for running a program for 35+ young women from the ages of 12-18. We have Sunday classes, weekly activities, and summer camp...among other things. Since I was called, I have had many moments that I have felt overwhelmed and under qualified. However, in His typical fashion, God let me know several months before I was called to this position that my heart needed to be turned towards the young women, so I have also felt such peace. And an intense love and concern for each of the girls that honestly makes me ache to serve them, and to improve my knowledge so that I can be the leader that they deserve and need me to be.


There have been other changes, some that I don't feel right about sharing the details about. I can say that I have found myself in a learning curve with people that I thought we had good, respectful relationships with and it turns out...we don't. It has caused me to once again look inward to determine how the woman I wish to be would behave. The more I live life, the more clear it becomes to me that the only power I have lies in thoughtfully controlling what I say and do. I cannot EVER hope to change a situation by changing someone else. And I cannot EVER hope to be a person of influence unless I show myself to be "a doer of the word, and not hearer only." Even when I feel wronged and misunderstood, all that matters is that I control what I can--how I respond.


And although all these learning curves stretch my mind, my energy, and my patience...I am grateful.