While driving to work this morning I was listening to the song “Never Be The Same” by Dewayne Woods. This caused me to start to reflect on events and things that have taken place in my life that permanently altered my life.

I thought of the heartbreaks of death, the sadness of broken dreams & promises, the demise of my naturally trusting personality and the loss of friendships over the years, etc. Then I started to long for the days of the past when life was less complicated than it is now. I started feeling nostalgic and sad as I remembered good times of the past that still cause me to smile.

If my grandparents were still here, they would be so proud of the woman I am, if my niece and nephew were still here, they would be running around with the others having my heart be even more expanded than it already is. If I had of known the true extent of the hormonal issues I was experiencing then maybe Chocolate and I would have mini versions of us tagging along with their cousins on a crusade to driving us crazy in love!! If I had not have become so complacent at the first company I ever worked at, I could be in my dream job! If …If…If…

But life had other plans.

I would not be who I am today without all that I have battled through. I would not possess the resilience that I do had I not gone through some things. I would not have the joy that I do had I not experienced true pain and heartbreak. I would not be as thankful as I am had I not seen God bring me through situations that were designed to break me!

I pray that this resonates with someone. We cannot experience the joys of life without the woes of life. If we just go through life in a single emotion, what fun would that be? You have to have a reason to Praise! When life has humbled you and taken you down the valley of the shadow of death, or through some health challenges or financial challenges and you get to that other side, You Praise a little different. Instead of keeping it cute with a slow clap like Nancy Pelosi, you now shout out, THANK YOU GOD!

It’s human nature to want things to remain the same, to not desire any changes to situations and circumstances that are working, that are enjoyable, that brings us happiness but the reality is time changes all things.

Things that once troubled us, will no longer. Things that once made us sad, may now make us smile and vice versa. We may find reward in some things that use to challenge us. We may no longer like some things that we use to love. Everything changes.

Well, almost everything, God still remains the same God of yesterday, today and tomorrow! And for that, I am grateful!

I am going to spend more time thanking God for the moments that brings my heart immense joy and ask that he gives me more of those in the future instead of asking him to stay in that moment forever.

When I am in the throes of a battle, I am going to ask God to bring me through better & wiser than I was going in.

When my heart is weeping from emotional turmoil, I am going to pray to God that he reminds me of reasons to weep tears of joy.

Through it all, I am no longer going to ask for things to stay the same, I am going to welcome the changes as they come and be thankful for the opportunity to live in the blessing of newness!