EMBRACING CHANGE by Dr. Dayo Lanier

Funny thing happened on the way to planning out my life and mapping its course… a God-directed change in plans occurred.

I was well on my way to getting our house, my email inbox and our family’s schedule, more organized (organization which included writing blog posts more consistently and finally cleaning out the garage… though, not necessarily in that order), when I found out that we were moving again for my husband’s job!

We were headed for a wonderful opportunity at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, TN.  Go Vols! 🙂

But before we could begin this new chapter in our lives, we had to go through the daunting task of relocating first—also known as, the painful part.

I’ve found the process of moving to be less painful when you can embrace change and learn to get comfortable with the unknown… I’ve also found that I’m not particularly great at either of those things.

On a cerebral level, I know that change is the only constant in life, but from a comfort standpoint, I like for things to stay where I put them.
Being uncomfortable makes me uncomfortable, and moving is discomfort to the tenth degree.

Nevertheless, I was well aware that I couldn’t just blink and find myself settled in our new city.   It was going to be a process and it was going to take a lot of work—work which required me to trust God’s direction and His wisdom.

If you’ve ever moved, you know that it’s quite the undertaking. In fact, I liken it to childbirth—a painful experience with an outcome so joyous, it allows you to forget the discomforts of the journey… until the next time.

And that’s what happened to me. I forgot about the discomforts.

I forgot about transforming our lived-in home into the model home version of itself. I forgot about trying to keep it looking that way at all times, despite having a dog that sheds enough to stuff a pillow. I also forgot about trying to get my teen and my tween to partner with me in keeping the house looking spotless (there was lots of grumbling and yelling involved in that endeavor).

In order to keep my sanity in check and my outlook positive during this time of transition, prayer was a must. Leaning on these Bible verses helped, as well:

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) – “For I know the plans I have for you,” declared the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Proverb 3:5 (NIV) – “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding.”

In the end, we were able to sell our old house and buy our dream home in record time. And while our move wasn’t seamless, it was worth it.

Our recent move:

1.) Reminded me that I can’t get so locked into my own plans, that I forget to make room for what God wants to do in my life.

2.) It revealed the peace that comes from trusting an uncertain future to an all-knowing God.

3.) And as I finish this blog post while looking out the window of my new home office/music room, it showed me that when I loosen my grip on what I think is best for me, my hands are open to receive the blessings that God has in store.

EDITOR’S NOTE
Dr. Dayo Lanier is a Pediatrician, an Ivy League Graduate (Cornell), the mother of two teenagers and the wife of a college basketball coach. Together, along with their two children, the Laniers have made stops at Rutgers, the University of Texas, Siena College (NY), University of Virginia, University of Florida, a return to Texas, the University of Tennessee and now Atlanta where her husband, Rob, serves as the Head Coach at Georgia State. Their Journey has altered her career and allowed her to explore her interest in writing and music among other things. You can visit Dr Lanier’s website reservedrebel.com and follow her page on twitter @ReservedRebel.