Family Matters
~Change Is in the Air

Posted by Stephanie Marchbanks on October 6th, 2010 in Blog | 14 Comments

Standing transfixed before my kitchen window,
I’m mesmerized by a shower of yellow leaves in my backyard, the first signs of fall. Ah, how I love fall. I breathe it deep, when it comes: the crisp air, the wood smoke. I smile at the pumpkins and the hay bales, and I’m absolutely giddy on our yearly family trip to the State Fair of Texas each October.

I’m so in love with fall that (when nobody’s watching) I’ve been known to throw out my hands on an invigorating fall walk and twirl with the dancing leaves until they become dried, tumbling laughter at my feet.

The seasons tumble like the leaves, don’t they? They roll (a growing thing) and before we know it, several have passed, and then…several more.

Time brings changes. Do we smile at them?

Recently, as I left the grocery store, I passed a man coming in. Life had obviously brought changes to him and to his family. He was growing older, but not old enough to explain his stiff legs that barely moved as he shuffled along. Before I caught myself, I spoke a greeting that included asking how he was. As I braced myself for his answer, I was surprised as his face broke into an infectious, genuine smile, and he said, “I’m doing wonderfully!”

If we are ever going to smile, it will have to be done in our circumstances, whatever they are at the time, won’t it?

Our families move through chapters of time, and as the pages turn, the changes come: early marriage, diapers and sleepless nights, finger paintings on the fridge, bustling school schedules, the iPod years, college and the proverbial empty nest, aging parents, and all-too-soon, facing wrinkles in the mirror ourselves. In shifting sands, how do we navigate? Sometimes we need a rock to cling to.

Did you know that Jesus is a Rock? And have you ever read these verses? I found them recently, during my morning reading time:

⁸ Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

(Hebrews 13:8, NKJV)

For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

(Hebrews 13:5b, NKJV)

¹⁴ For this is God,
Our God forever and ever;
He will be our guide
Even to death.

(Psalm 48:14, NKJV)

And the book I was reading said that because Jesus never changes, our relationship with Him provides a rock-solid foundation for our lives.

I’m smiling NOW.

When changes swirl around me, these words are strong and solid, like a rock that I can cling to. It’s comforting to know that no matter what, Jesus is the same. He never changes. He loves us endlessly, and He will never leave us or forsake us.

Even when we have to shuffle to get into the grocery store.