I grieved the start of school because I totally missed teaching. I had traded my lesson-planner and professional outfits for a crying baby and a t-shirt with spit-up on it. I knew I was beyond blessed as I held my new baby girl, but I really missed the warm fuzzies from my students even though just a few months before my baby was born I couldn’t wait to quit working!
Was I schizophrenic? Maybe. Or perhaps, I was just human.
The grass always appears greener on the other side until you get there.
But I learned a very important lesson. The grass is as green as you make it. There are blessings to be found in every situation–even the difficult ones.
I never went back to teaching. Instead, I learned to lean heavily on God, and I began to see His wisdom when doors shut and provision when I desperately needed a friend. I started enjoying my new full-time mommy job. (Though there were days I was a really bad at it.)
Now my kids are 21,19,and 15. They walked into church together yesterday, all tall and big and beautiful to my mother eyes. And my cup runneth over. All those years of sacrifice and hard work were so worth every difficult moment. I know I’m not finished being their momma, but the days that were hard for me are gone. I’m definitely in a new season. Funny, but I no longer want to teach school. I’m fine working from home!
From those difficult years I learned that God always has good things planned, but I won’t find them until I stop seeking what I want and start asking what He has for me in that place. When I lay down my agenda and trust God with His, I find purpose and contentment.
Whatever season you are in, whatever place you find yourself where the grass looks greener either in the past or the future, I want to encourage you to wait. God has you in this place in this season for so many reasons. Some are for your growth, but some of those reasons are for others so that you can make a difference in their lives. No doubt about it. And that my friends brings greater joy and blessings than any other temporal pleasure. Even new shoes!
Much grace,
andy
Trust in the Lord and do good…(Psalm 37:3).
