The Times, They Are A-Changin'

Patricia Warren — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 00:20:00 -0400

If a widow has family members to take care of her, let them learn that religion begins at their own doorstep and that they should pay back with gratitude some of what they have received. This pleases God immensely. (1 Timothy 5:4 MSG)

When I heard the weak and desperate voice on my phone early May 27, I had no idea that closing and locking my house door that day was symbolic of closing and locking a chapter of my life.

When the routine outpatient procedure to insert a pacemaker turned into a seven-day hospital stay including four days in surgical ICU, my mother-in-law's life had a chapter closed as well.

And God directed it all, beginning years ago and continuing today:

. . .when He began the huge process of softening my heart to the needs of others.

. . .when He grew an interest in me towards health and nutrition, particularly for the aging process.

. . .when He presented my mother-in-law with the opportunity to purchase a house on three acres with a private second-story suite.

. . .when He guided the last of my children to a grown-up job and led all three on the road to independence.

This is God's Word on the subject: "I know what I am doing. I have it all planned out -- plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I'll listen." (Jeremiah 29:11-12 MSG)

Probably the most remarkable thing about these changes is the peace I feel about them. My husband commented the other night while we walked in the cool of the evening that I seemed to be adapting better than he to the loss of privacy and freedom to do whatever we want. Not that it is all smooth and easy.

I had a tough and teary moment sitting with my husband in Starbucks last night for our first "date night" since my mother-in-law became so ill. We were discussing the changes and I commented about my lack of time to write. I verbalized for the first time, "I'm not a writer anymore. I'm a caregiver." In that moment I felt the sharp pain of disappointment in seeing long-held plans dissolving.

My dear husband may or may not have noticed my depth of emotion as he continued our conversation. His quiet voice and sweet attitude pulled me back just before I jumped into the chasm of self-pity. We started talking about the house we want to build on the land next to his mother's house. The excitement of getting to build our dream home chased away the lingering sadness. Later, I stumbled across a website with house plans nearly exactly like little cabin we've been admiring for the past eight years. It was a definite God-directed find because the ease of building this home using these plans means we will be able to start sooner than we expected.

I'm sure now I'll see God's goodness in the exuberant earth. Stay with God! Take heart. Don't quit. I'll say it again: Stay with God. (Psalm 27:14 MSG)

The blessing of home-building is a two-fold gift: First, I will be close enough to give direct care to my mother-in-law and her autistic daughter without disrupting my ability to keep our home a sanctuary for my husband (and children when they visit). Second, we thought we would never have the opportunity to build our own home with all the responsibilities we have. Now we get to see this dream come true.

We who have run for our very lives to God have every reason to grab the promised hope with both hands and never let go. It's an unbreakable spiritual lifeline, reaching past all appearances right to the very presence of God where Jesus, running on ahead of us, has taken up His permanent post as High Priest for us, in the order of Melchizedek. (Hebrews 6:19-20 MSG)

The under-girding of my peace is that regardless of the changes in my life, the Lord never changes. He is the Rock to which my soul is anchored. No matter how tossed about I may feel, I can never be loosed from His protective embrace. How grateful I am to be His child! His abundant grace fills me for the tasks He planned for me from the beginning of time. I can count on Him to be steadfast in not only my life, but the generations after me and they will be able to look to His blessings on our family in this moment for confirmation of His guidance and faithfulness in their lives for the future.

Long ago You laid the foundation of the earth and made the heavens with Your hands. They will perish, but You remain forever; they will wear out like old clothing. You will change them like a garment and discard them. But You are always the same; You will live forever. The children of Your people will live in security. Their children's children will thrive in Your presence. (Psalm 102:25-28 MSG)

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The Times, They Are A-Changin'