There is freedom in change
*This piece first appeared in the 2016 MOPS International publication, Searching for Stars, a devotional for military moms. For more info on MOPS Intl., please visit MOPS.org.
The first time I went to the commissary as a newly minted military wife I was completely confused. How are they getting the price per pound for chicken breasts so low? Why is there such a huge selection of Asian and German food? Why are there traffic arrows painted on the floor in each aisle? Why is this adorable old man, the same age as my grandfather, bagging my groceries instead of the considerably younger cashier? And wait, he’s loading them into my car and then expects a tip? It was like I stepped through the looking glass into a world that at first glance looked the same, but upon closer inspection, operated under a completely different set of rules. Even if my new hubby had clued me in, I still wouldn’t have understood until I saw it for myself.
The military life is a string of unfamiliar experiences. It’s a journey of constant change and adjustment. Sometimes it feels like you just unpacked your household goods and already the packers are here to start wrapping everything up again. With each new duty assignment life shifts to something close, but not quite what you were used to. The plans you made, the schedule you had, even the furniture placement that worked before just doesn’t fit into your new way of life. So, as the heart of your family, you reevaluate, adapt and evolve, and your family follows your lead. There is power in the ability to periodically alter the way your family operates. Knowing that Uncle Sam will move you again in a few years, there is a magnificent freedom in the ability to say “This is the best option for this time and place. It’s not a forever decision.” What a gift God gives us in the military to recognize that life is not one straight road, but rather a chain of seasons, each unique in it’s challenges and blessings. God tells us in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8,
For everything there is a season,
a time for every activity under heaven.
A time to be born and a time to die.
A time to plant and a time to harvest.
A time to kill and a time to heal.
A time to tear down and a time to build up.
A time to cry and a time to laugh.
A time to grieve and a time to dance.
A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.
A time to embrace and a time to turn away.
A time to search and a time to quit searching.
A time to keep and a time to throw away.
A time to tear and a time to mend.
A time to be quiet and a time to speak.
A time to love and a time to hate.
A time for war and a time for peace.
Don’t waste time wishing for a life without change. Embrace the freedom God gives us in this dynamic military life and thank him every day for the season you are in today.
