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We all reach times when we face changes or are given opportunities to ‘move on.’  It’s important to remember that these transformations, though daunting, often lead to new and exciting experiences.  Embracing change can open doors we never knew existed.

My neighbor and friend, Geri, turned 80 recently and felt she needed to make crucial decisions regarding her life.  Her husband passed a few years ago, and Geri stayed in their house just down the street.   Yet, her children reside in Athens, Georgia, which is more than an hour away.

She put her house up for sale around the corner.  Geri bravely chose to go out on a tree limb and build a house near Ugga’s home.   She packed her boxes, bags, and memories of her time here and is sitting on her new screened porch sipping a glass of wine today.  She leaped, landed, and laughed joyfully that she had survived the challenge of change.

God, in his mysterious, unseen ways, ushers us through life’s transitions whether we are 18 or 80.   When I retired from an Interior Design career nine years ago, I was exhausted from moving furniture, hanging pictures, and climbing ladders.  But I never tired of helping folks make their houses a home.  So, when Geri decided to take the plunge, I felt a strong sense of divine guidance.

“Lynn, you need to help Geri’s new house become her home.  So do it!” Since God’s taps usually turn into pokes that typically become a punch if you don’t obey, I offered my service as a goodbye gift.

I gathered my neighbor, friend, and former decorating sidekick, Deborah, to help.  Of course, I poked Deborah to help me.  So, with her bad back and cheery attitude, the two of us climbed into my Subaru with our vitamins, Advil, and tools and headed to Geri’s new place.

Twenty-four hours later, I vacuumed the last speck of dust off the floor before waving to a teary-eyed, grateful Geri as we backed out of her driveway to drive home.  During those hours, we climbed ladders, hung 30 pictures and 6 mirrors, and placed accessories in every room. It was a challenging task, but the sense of accomplishment was overwhelming.

There’s a unique joy in doing good for others.  I thought I’d be recovering in a hospital bed, but here I am, drinking coffee and sharing this experience with you.  It’s a powerful reminder that the pleasure of helping others far outweighs any physical exhaustion.  It’s a feeling that can inspire and motivate us all.

I figured if God says do it, and you do it, he might just save you from feeling the pain of what you did. 

Most of the time, I don’t hear God because I am too busy talking.   Some folks don’t listen to him because they are too busy complaining.   Often, we ignore God’s pokes and just do our own thing without a care in the world.  That always turns into a stay in the corner of misery when we least expect it.

The challenges and changes we face in life keep us relishing living.  We continue to grow; no matter how old we are, we are here to serve one another.  In these acts of service, we find our true purpose and a deep sense of fulfillment.    

Geri, like me, adores those items that once graced the homes of those we loved and lost.  Each priceless treasure has a story attached.  I know those items should always be the first to unbox and display.  When we surround ourselves with the memories of those we no longer see, we still feel the embrace of their love.

The master bedroom needed something on the right end of the dresser.  We had scoured boxes, but nothing seemed to fit.  Just before we finished the final touches to Geri’s home, Deborah found another box of framed photos.  Two oval frames held the pictures of Geri’s mother and father taken in the 50s.  I knew where they belonged.   When I placed them on the dresser, Geri understood, as I did, that she was finally home.

As we drove home, Deborah and I talked about the delight we felt in seeing our friend happy and renewed, which also lifted our spirits. 

I swear, however, I will never hang another picture, climb on a ladder, or move furniture again!  If I have said it once, I have said it a thousand times.  But God just must not have heard me. 

He usually gets his way no matter what I say, and that is the truth of life.  If we trust God to help us overcome our challenges and move on, we find a permanent home in his welcoming arms.