The 10’s

Amazing, it’s a new year, a new decade.. and the more things change, the more they stay the same. In some ways that’s disappointing and in other ways it’s extremely comforting. Without a doubt, it’s easy to distinguish the two phenomenons and their correlating effects. A wonderful and beautiful family and home life, one would hope it never changes and all the drama that comes with its extensions, well, change would be welcome. And yet, both prospects seem equally daunting in their probabilities. Of course it’s unlikely my family will stay the same forever: Davin, Dean and Nate are growing up so fast.

Davin is already five months old and is forever developing at an immense rate. That little monkey is still one of the strongest babies I’ve ever seen: don’t let him get a handle on your chest hair (not an immediate problem for you ladies). He’s extremely observant, plus, he can always recognize and often empathizes with my emotions. And my other two boys are growing like weeds, everyday they look more and more like little men. Everyday I am increasingly more proud of how they conduct themselves (that sounds like I am giving a military report right there, nah, they are just such good boys, it does my heart proud). And my wife and I are thankfully growing closer and closer everyday even amidst all the adversity and crap life throws at you. So, no, I cannot imagine wanting my family life to change, but of course it will. Thankfully, that doesn’t mean for the worst, or well, hopefully.

And then there is the change I would wish for. Sometimes people cannot see farther than themselves and their own circumstances and understandably so. Although, how awesome it would be if that could change. So many times in life people get riled over the strangest things and they hold onto those imagined or real hurts (or imagined real or real imagined) to the detriment of everything or everyone else in their lives. Seriously, wouldn’t it be nice if we could all just get along. A miracle for most families. And if you noticed I am being vague on the details, stop being so annoyingly perceptive and follow the train of thought behind the details.

In my lackluster dreams of harmony something occurs to me: change is not easy in and of ourselves. 12 step programs tell you to seek, to believe in something higher than yourself to orchestrate and maintain a change in your life. And I believe that’s the key. That dusty old book somewhere on a shelf, possibly in your house, tells us that there is no good thing in us (Romans 7:18): a lot of times we want to change, do good but can’t. It also says every good and perfect gift is from God (James 1:17). “Whoa, I didn’t know you were going to get all Biblical on me!?!” Yep, caught you off-guard huh. Anyways, since we are not all inherently good (as some would believe) without God, then it might concur that with God we can be better. It makes sense, God is love (1 John 4:8), He’s good (Psalm 119:68; Mark 10:18), He wants the best for our lives (Jeremiah 29:11). All that in the dusty book on your shelf (or maybe propping up a table) somewhere. Hence, in this new year, decade, time, era, place . . . I pray for that kind of change we all desire and also stability for myself and y’all in the 10’s.

Until then:
God grant us the serenity
to accept the things we cannot change;
courage to change the things we can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Some other Bible verses of interest: Proverbs 3:5-6; Lamentations 3:25; Zephaniah 3:17; Ephesians 3:20-21; Philippians 4:8.

That is all.