We've recently moved. To a new city. With 2 kids who've never moved before. With 2 adults who knew it was the right decision, but still struggled with leaving friends and routines behind. We've been sick since we've moved, we've just not quite gotten into a routine. And due to the extreme heat, and the no-swimming situation, we've been inside ALOT more than usual. Oh,and we still have a house to sell in our old town that we really.need.to.sell. All these things together contribute to the "blahs". I knew I was feeling a bit blah, but when I noticed N feeling a bit "blah" I was a bit more concerned. He's not a blah kinda kid. He's a "this is the greatest day of my life" kind of kid.
He's been telling us that he doesn't like his new school, that he doesn't have any friends, and our new church is too small. So, we've listened and tried to offer the positive side of all his "complaints".
But, all of this changed for him yesterday. Yesterday afternoon, he announced that he had discovered The Secret to Happiness. He didn't want to tell anyone, but he wanted to write a book about it. But, he was afraid that if everyone knew that they would mob him and tear his clothes off because they would be so happy to know "The Secret"! So, finally, he let Lance know what the secret is......................
Be happy where you are. Now, I don't know about you, but for me, this was both profound and yet quite simple. Contentment. This is something I struggle with - I always am looking forward to something more, bigger, different, etc. When instead, I should just be happy where I am.
I should enjoy the being "new". I should soak in the excitement of new adventures and the joy of not knowing all the negative about people here. I should thank God for the opportunity to know and serve alongside others!
And N? He seems to have really taken his "advice" to heart. There is contentment and peace about him now. And we're only in the 3rd week of school. Yippee!
5 comments:
Wow, that's pretty cool what N figured out...I think most of us adults even struggle with that...we know it's the right answer....but it's not the easy way to be. Easy is to complain and be sad.
Can't wait to see you next Friday!
Wow! He is growing up so fast.
I wish I would have appreciated being a kid when I was a kid. Life was so much easier. He's pretty smart to realize this now and to accept it.
That is very deep and insightful for a child his age!!
I really feel for you all! Moving is HARD! When we first moved here, I was miserable, for quite some time. I cried all the time, for my friends and everything that I knew and liked where we had been. It just takes time. Time....to get to know a new place and make new friends........as hard for adults sometimes as for the kids.
This is absolutely precious!! A word for this momma who has just been in a new home for a month...even though it's only 45 minutes from the old one. It's kind of a whole new life!
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