 I just got back yesterday evening from my quick trip to Walland, TN. It was gruelling – four days on the road with no down time. Mr. Fix-It and I left on Thursday, got there Friday at 4 pm, helped my parents and loaded the little truck that they gave Mr. Fix-It. Then we left on Saturday morning and drove until 4:30 Sunday afternoon, with a hotel in between. My body is too old for this.  The purpose of the trip made it even tougher. My parents have sold their house, are giving away practically everything and are moving into a retirement community. It is a smart move on their part because the house and the property is just too big and too labor intensive for two people. But knowing the wisdom of this move does not make it any easier on all of us kids.  Tennessee was our stomping ground as children. It was where we all attended Girl Scouts, high school and college and took many “field trips” or camping trips to the Smokey Mountains. It was where some of us had our children. It was where those children spent their early years. It is where we have visited our parents, after we all moved out-of-state, at their lovely home with a view of the mountains right outside a bedroom window. It has been trout streams, cool mornings and evenings, wild turkeys, deer and other assorted wildlife, quiet and private communing with nature, long walks and a big house where lots of us could congregate in laughter and love.  Change is tough. We all hold onto our memories like gold and we expect things to stay the same forever and ever. But nothing ever does. We all grow older, we lose jobs, we get illnesses, we get married, we have children, we move, we lose love ones. And in all the changes that we experience through life, there is only one constant – God. It is so wonderful to know that in all of the upheaval that we know as “life” that there is One who is never-changing, in control and full of love and compassion. He sees our tears and lets us cry and then encourages in the most amazing ways. And believe me, I have cried some tears. But already I see the blessings of the changes that are coming. So, I am just taking this moment to encourage you if there are changes in your life right now. We don’t like change. It makes us uncomfortable. But in everything that comes our way, there is always a lesson and a blessing if we are open to allowing God to do His thing. It’s in the looking back, that we see how change always makes us stronger, more compassionate and more faithful.  So congratulations, Mom and Dad, for being willing to face change with eagerness, faith and joy. You are a blessing to all of us and witness to many.  |
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As I said previously, change can hurt, mostly emotionally, but that is, to my way of thinking, a much deeper hurt. Be thankful your parents are capable of making that decision in their own time, and it was not one you and your siblings had to make for them ( which would have been so much harder for all concerned). This way, they were in control of their fate, could keep or give away their own possessions to whom they wanted and chose where and when they would move before anything more drastic had to be done. In other words, they planned and executed that plan to their specifications, not had it forced on them. I am sure this made the transation easier for them and for you all. God gave them the sense to know when life on their own was too much for them, and He helped them to make the decisions for what was best for them. Having had to put my mother in a nursing home against her wishes, I know the other side of the coin – the guilt, the anger from the parent, and all the other emotional baggage that goes with a move like that. you are blessed that your parents were able to make and carry out that decision on their own. You will always have your memories. And yes, there will come a time you too will have that decision to make and hope ;you can do it the way your parents did. And, as you said, God is control, and it sounds like your parents listened to Him, and followed His orders…..
Well said, Julie. And I am sure that my parents are giving you a thumbs up right now if they are on the internet!! 🙂
Wow that is a lot of driving and work. Sad story that they have to move into a center after all their hard working lives!! But exactly like you said God gives blessings in all different ways we just have to accept them!!!
Oh what an emotional move for all. How wonderful for your parents as they begin their new adventure. Mary Beth we will always have our wonderful memories of the Smokies and growing in East Tennessee. My oldest son was born there too. I love to go home and maybe someday I will be able to move back. Right now, I have been so blessed to have been able to be here in Madisonville Tx to help care for my Aunt and Uncle in their final days. I also spent quality time with my Mother daily during the last 6 years of her life, and am very proud to be able to help my Father as he approached 88 this December. God blesses us all is so many different ways and change is always hard, but he always sees us through it. Be of good faith and smile and remember all the good times and think on the good ones your parents have ahead of them. Love ya! Debbie
Debbie, thank you!! We do have good memories, don’t we?! 🙂 So glad to hear how you have been able to see the blessings!!
Your parents are such a cute couple. And wise! I am so glad to hear they are making this decision on their own. We were put in the awful position of having to make the decision for my mother in law. She was unable to stay in her home of 35 years because of health and financial reasons. It was really hard on her and the whole family to force the change.
Your family is handling everything so gracefully. God’s blessing on you all.
Thank you Brenda!!
Yes indeed, Amanda. It’s the paying attention to those blessings that’s the hard part!!
What a wonderful tribute to your parents! And God Bless them in their new adventure.
Yep, it’s a pretty big change!