I walked one last time in my Nonno and Nonna’s house the other day… 32 years of my life having begun here and then spent every Sunday thereafter with my family. 32 years of laughs and music echoing the walls… whatever season it was, singing and dancing always seemed to fill this little house and welcome others in to join in.
32 years of watching my Nonno walk in with his newsboy cap, hang his little suit jacket in the closet and then wait for us all to finish chatting so he could pray over the meal we would share. I held Giada as I walked through the rooms and the scent brought me back to these memories that are now forever in my mind.
Time is a thief they say, but I think it can also be a gift. It’s meant to show us our time on this earth doesn’t last forever—but our souls were created for eternity.
This house is just a house, but it was built on the foundation of Christ. My Nonno always spoke the Gospel to anyone that would listen and it embedded our hearts and minds as we all grew up. One day I’ll tell Giada of her great-nonni and the love that filled this little house. I walk away with a heart full of memories, but most importantly knowing Jesus as my Savior because of my Nonno’s leap of faith in becoming a Christian and then sharing that love with us all.
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The same week I said good-bye to a job I truly loved and was grateful for, for the past 6 years. I always struggled with different jobs throughout my twenties, because I never felt I belonged anywhere. When I began working at the library, I knew God had answered my longtime prayer. The people I got to work beside and friendships I made, the overall peace I felt and joy as I walked alongside the books putting them away, singing to the children at story time and creating crafts for the holiday decor— was it possible to love working at a place this much? I knew this season of my life was one I’d always look back at and smile. I called it my "snow globe position" because like a snow globe, the snow falls and everything looks beautiful, but will fade after a certain time.
Many life changes— some sad and some wonderful happened during my six years here. I got engaged, married in the midst of a worldwide pandemic, lost 3 of my grandparents, cried many tears as my mom was given a breast cancer diagnosis and researched until it was all I could eat, drink, and breathe. I almost lost my father after being in the ICU and hospital for about a month, and finally received the surprise of being pregnant with our beautiful baby girl.
I knew I would never be the same after I gave birth and my heart and the next season of my life would now belong to this little soul God blessed me with, and so I knew the time had come to say goodbye.
Through all of these experiences, there's one thing that stood true for it all-- I saw God's hand in every single place, event, circumstance, and impossible situation.
God no doubt orchestrates our lives and gives us ample time in each season to enjoy, weep, learn, and then grow from it. It's bitter because I loved being with my family for 32 years of my life and now it's no longer the same-- but it's sweet because I got to experience the joys of a family that rejoices and prays together and ultimately can overcome any obstacle with the Lord's strength. Not many people have that, and so I will treasure it forever.
Choosing to leave a job I enjoyed to raise my daughter is bitter because I lost a little of myself and that independence and social aspect-- but it's sweet because I now get to be with my daughter which I always prayed for and watch her grow up. I get to be the one that teaches her and experiences it all with her. I don't take that for granted and am truly grateful for this blessing.
We hold onto things in this life too tightly, but the truth of the matter is a house is just a house and a job is just a job.
The only thing that we can take with us is all that we've done for Christ and the people we love. Which is why it's so important to tell others the Gospel and all that Jesus did for us on the cross.
Looking back at all these events in my life, I'm so grateful God was always there to provide and that the ending was far greater than the beginning.
With God, the ending will always be far more wonderful than anything we leave behind. May we look to Him with our tomorrows no matter how dark our yesterdays may seem-- and may we embark on new chapters in our lives with His courage, and trust that He guiding us in every season with purpose. ♡
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