Food for Thought: June 25th

Accepting Change

One day my mother and I were working together in the garden. We were transplanting some plant for the third time. Grown from seed in a small container, the plants had been transferred to a larger container; then transplanted into the garden. Now, because I was moving, we were transplanting them again.

Inexperienced as a gardener, I turned to my green-thumbed mother. "Isn't this bad for them?" I asked, as we dug them up and shook the dirt from their roots. "Won't it hurt these plants, being uprooted and transplanted so many times?"

"Oh, no," my mother replied. "Transplanting doesn't hurt them. In fact, it's good for the ones that survive. That's how their roots grow strong. Their roots will grow deep, and they'll make strong plants."

Often, I've felt like those small plants - uprooted and turned upside down. Sometimes, I've endured the change willingly, sometimes reluctantly, but usually my reaction has been a combination.

Won't this be hard on me? I ask. Wouldn't it be better if things remained the same? That's when I remember my mother's words - that's how the roots grow deep and strong.

Today, God, help me remember that during times of transition, my faith and my self are being strengthened.

From Food for Thought: Daily Meditations for Overeaters by Elisabeth L. ©1980, 1992 by Hazelden Foundation

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"There are no coincidences, no mistakes. All events are blessings given to us to learn from."
~Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

Change can be disturbing, as humans are creatures of habits. But without change, there is no growth.  When we look at all events as being gifts, then we stop labeling them 'good' or 'bad' and instead, we accept these events with graciousness. We become aware of the fact that each event is an opportunity for growth.......to absorb something new into our lives and to learn.

For today, I welcome change. If I am to be uprooted, I will accept that event as a blessing to learn from. For today, I will be on the lookout for 'coincidences', knowing that God puts people & events into my life for a purpose. It is my job to discover and figure out what that purpose is, and how it can enhance my life.