I did it! You know that thing I told you awhile back I was going to do (see Something New)…

That’s right, I sold the house. I said I was going to do it. I said it was the right thing for us. I said the past is in the past and the future is our future.

But, I didn’t think about where we would live after we sold the house! I didn’t think about where we would live as we headed into the future!

I suppose I hadn’t really planned to sell it. Or, maybe I secretly hoped it wouldn’t sell.

But, I did it, I really did it. I sold the house.

So,  I decided we should rent a house until I figure out where we should live permanently. But, I wanted a rental with a backyard the kids could play in that’s located in a nice neighborhood where there’s other kids to play with and a good school because we may live there a year or two.

So, I went and looked at a house to rent. It was okay. In fact, it was probably a pretty good house. But it wasn’t as good as our house. Because it wasn’t our house…

I can’t believe I sold our house!

Then, as I was driving away, I got sad about selling our house. Maybe I shouldn’t have sold it. I don’t have to sell it. Nobody’s making me sell it

And, it’s the only house the kids have ever known.

But, I sold our house.

Our life is changing. We’re leaving the past behind us. We’re starting a new future. We’re on a new adventure!

Yeah, it’s easy to say, it’s exciting to think about. But then when the cold, hard reality of all this change confronts you, it’s not so easy to accept, it’s not so exciting to actually do it!

In fact, it’s somewhat depressing…

You see, deep down inside I don’t really want to let go of the past. It’s a safe place. I feel secure there. I know what I’m doing. I’m in control.

Then suddenly, my eyes starting watering. As I’m driving away, I could feel this heaving start to rise up in my chest.

I knew this would happen, I just didn’t know when it would happen. I knew this break-up with my past would hurt my feelings. But, I didn’t anticipate that looking at a rent house would bring my hurt feelings to the surface!

But it did. And, I started feeling sorry for myself. I started sobbing like a little baby not getting its way.

Am I doing the right thing? Who can I ask? Somebody tell me if I’m doing the right thing!

Uprooting the kids from the only home they’ve ever known and making them go live in a house that’s not even going to be their home. Surely, it will damage them emotionally and psychologically.

Then, almost as quickly as the tears started to flow, they stopped. Suddenly, I heard the words of the song playing on the radio. And they were being sung to me! The words of the song were meant for me! It was if God was answering my cry for somebody to help:

And, I was reminded, providentially, I believe, that this new adventure is my heavenly assignment. It’s God’s plan and purpose for my life and my children’s lives.

So, I’m supposed to follow wherever this path leads. Even if it follows a path I’ve never been down before.

Then, the feeling sorry for myself stopped and the feeling grateful started.

You see, I’m blessed. I’m fortunate. Because, I’ve got a heavenly assignment. In fact, I’ve got the best heavenly assignment there is. Raising kids. Raising my grandchildren!

But, why would God give this important parenting assignment to a parent so incompetent as I? Sometimes I just don’t understand why God works things out like He does. And, certainly, I don’t deserve the honor.

But, I suspect that my parental incompetence is the very reason God gave me this assignment! I will have to rely on Him so much to accomplish this calling. I will have to learn to depend on God to be a good parent. And then the children will also learn to depend on Him because He has really important assignments for them to accomplish in their lives.

I AM supposed to sell the house! I AM supposed to leave the past behind and go on this new adventure! Because, that’s the only way I will accomplish my heavenly assignment…

Yes, this is the first day of the rest of our lives and everything’s going to be alright!