My life is undergoing a lot of recent changes. My older son has finally left home (finishing Army basic training and heading to Monterey for yet more training). My younger daughter is headed to college in two weeks. We will suddenly go from a family of five (at home) to three. It makes things very interesting.
For my wife and I, this is a return to a very old experience. The last time we had a "three family" was in 1988, before my older son was born. We had one child (our oldest daughter, now 28). Now, we will have our son (almost 17) and no one else at home.
As for me, I look forward to the change, as to almost all changes. I am looking forward to getting to know him better. I am looking forward to more time with my wife. I am looking forward to how much easier it is to get tables in restaurants.
Change is stressful for us, quite often, but it is necessary. So much of our lives is just rote, repetitive, and boring. As Koheleth (the preacher) tells us in Ecclesiastes 1, life is often just repetition. The sun rises and sets, the winds blow and blow, the rain comes and the rivers run but the sea is never full, the water just goes back and does it all again. "All things are full of weariness; a man cannot utter it."
It is the changes that make life so interesting. "Empty nest syndrome" is just like being newly married, which was not boring. Children going away leaves time for new things.
In the midst of the routine of God's world, He has given us changes that keep us alive and keep us going. Let us embrace them as we embrace all of His truth. Changes are for the good and, also, for our good.
For my wife and I, this is a return to a very old experience. The last time we had a "three family" was in 1988, before my older son was born. We had one child (our oldest daughter, now 28). Now, we will have our son (almost 17) and no one else at home.
As for me, I look forward to the change, as to almost all changes. I am looking forward to getting to know him better. I am looking forward to more time with my wife. I am looking forward to how much easier it is to get tables in restaurants.
Change is stressful for us, quite often, but it is necessary. So much of our lives is just rote, repetitive, and boring. As Koheleth (the preacher) tells us in Ecclesiastes 1, life is often just repetition. The sun rises and sets, the winds blow and blow, the rain comes and the rivers run but the sea is never full, the water just goes back and does it all again. "All things are full of weariness; a man cannot utter it."
It is the changes that make life so interesting. "Empty nest syndrome" is just like being newly married, which was not boring. Children going away leaves time for new things.
In the midst of the routine of God's world, He has given us changes that keep us alive and keep us going. Let us embrace them as we embrace all of His truth. Changes are for the good and, also, for our good.