CHANGE IS COMING

Walking home from the Store the other day

It struck me........

there are changes ahead

spring is coming

the trees are sprouting new growth

It doesn't seem like it was that long ago........

That this little grove of trees was covered in snow

Where once all we could see was brown trees covered in snow

we are beginning to see signs of change ahead. We were talking the other day about how much more aware we have been of the change of the seasons in Ukraine.

Winter is hard here.

This is our second winter in Ukraine

but.....

this year has been easier

Having experienced our first winter in Ukraine we learned an important lesson about life

It is easier to get through the difficult times when we know what is ahead

it has been easier to endure the long winter knowing that soon we would see the sun again.

That soon.........................

the the good citizens of Ukraine would be out

sweeping and repaving the streets,

cleaning up trash,

planting flowers,

planting grass seed

and one day we would once again

stroll through the beautiful park

with flowers in bloom,

and see couples in love

The park would be filled with

brides on their wedding day and

children at play

and there would be a transformation..................

Spring would bring with it the promise of better days

I know that now,

I know that the snow will melt,

the rain will stop,

the muddy streets will dry up,

the days will get longer,

the sun will shine,

and the trees will blossom again

and that has made it so much easier to endure the long winter days

sometimes life is like that

when we are in the midst of pain or struggles

we can't see what is ahead

sometimes all we see is the long dark winter

and we can't even imagine that we will ever be happy again.

This journey to Ukraine has taught me that even when we are in the darkest moment

of our lives

up ahead is something better................

we won't always know what it is...............

or when it will come...........

but spring always comes!!!!!!!!!!!!!

one day..............

the rain will stop

the sun will shine

and our lives will be filled with the promise of a brigher day

That is what the Gospel of Jesus Christ gives us

The promise that one day

we will be free of the challenges we have faced on this earth,

the unfulfilled dreams,

the heartaches,

the Physical Ailments

If we can just hang on

If we can hold on to the hope of a brighter day

and stay close to our Heavenly Father through prayer and scripture study

If we just keep living our lives believing that one day the light will come,

one day we will smile again, one day our world will be brighter

He will not forsake us

we see his miracles everyday in the lives of people around us

as they receive comfort and strength to endure incredible trials

He will bring us the balm that we need to endure

and one day

we will have an eternal life filled with joy .....

that is what life in Ukraine taught me..............