New Beginnings

I believe that what we are experiencing today is often preparation for what is coming tomorrow.

There is something I love about new beginnings. They remind us that nothing stays the same and that life is meant to be lived in the moment.

I have lived long enough to realize that I am living what will one day be called the "good old days." The years when my children were little and life as a stay-at-home mom felt overwhelming now seem simple compared to managing the schedules, emotions, and growing independence of three teenagers. With every school year that ends, I find myself preparing for a new beginning while quietly mourning a season that will never return. My children are growing, and if I don't grow alongside them, a disconnect can develop that neither of us can afford.

New beginnings come in many forms. A new home. A new job. New friendships. A fresh look for an old space. What I appreciate most is that they remind me that I am changing too. I am not the same person I was five, ten, or twenty years ago. I can learn, adapt, and move differently because of what life has taught me.

Having moved many times as both a child and an adult, I sometimes feel as though I've lived several different lives. Every home, city, school, and season carries its own lessons, relationships, and memories. Some goodbyes happened on their own. Others were intentional because I knew that embracing something new required letting go of something old (like unfulfilled expectations) and relationships that I had outgrown.

As an educator, every new school brings fresh opportunities, challenges, and relationships. Looking back, I can see that each experience prepared me for the next one. I believe that what we are experiencing today is often preparation for what is coming tomorrow.

At the same time, I don't believe in leaving a place with unfinished business. When we move on, we should do our best to leave things better than we found them. Tie up loose ends. Fulfill commitments. Make the transition easier for those who come after us.

As a songwriter and creative person, I have learned the importance of finishing what I start. Recently, I listened to some old song drafts and smiled at how far I've come. Some projects were worth keeping. Others needed to be deleted. Not every idea is meant to last forever, but every ending deserves intentionality. When we conclude a project, dream, or season, we develop the courage to face endings with love and grace rather than regret.

I used to think frequent changes meant I had failed to put down roots or if I did, that I was unable to stay in one place. After all, who wants to constantly be uprooted? (I don’t see any trees raising their branches in the affirmative:). Now I see it differently. My life is ultimately in God's hands, and whether I stay somewhere for ten years or ten months, there is purpose in every season. My responsibility is to embrace where I am, serve faithfully, and trust His plan. Through service, we learn, grow, encourage others, and discover that kindness often leaves a greater impact than we realize.

Nugget of Truth

Don't fear new beginnings, instead welcome them! They are often God's way of preparing you for what's next. Finish what you start, release what no longer serves its purpose, and trust that every ending can become the doorway to something new.