5/7/2017 0 Comments Best is Yet to Come (Red)
Needless to say, life isn’t perfect. I didn’t find that perfect land. Since we moved and began homeschooling, I have been away from my best friend and my high school band. I wasn’t playing snare drum, timpani, marimba—even tambourine!—in my concert band. I wasn’t experiencing growth in my skills. I wasn’t seeing my old friends on a regular basis. I had to work to get back into contact with some of them. Some of the relationships weakened to the point that I wasn’t sure they were even there. Moreover, I had moved 45 minutes away from two colleges in the area that offered music programs to high schoolers, and now I was in a county that only had one technical community college (no music or art whatsoever). I felt like I had moved away from everything I loved. I feel so awful! Was this even the right choice? What am I going to do about it? Well, there are two reasons I don't have to be mopey about this. 1. I am amazingly blessed.Whether it was the “right” or “wrong” decision, I should still be thankful. King David, as he worships the King of kings, shouts, “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever” (Psalm 118:1)! Paul tells me to give thanks in everything, because it’s God’s will (1 Thessalonians 5:18). When I begin to think of all I have gained this year, I realize that even though it’s been hard, it’s been good, too. Really good. Take away the pain of what you’ve lost, and you see lots of amazing things. I joined an excellent choir that sings with an excellent orchestra that stretched me a lot. I met new, wonderful friends when I joined a troop of the American Heritage Girls. I’ve had the time to take courses at community colleges, earning college credit plus. I’ve been able to explore other outlets of creativity besides music, like art and writing. I’ve even written a few of my own songs! I’ve learned how to deal with a much smaller room. I’ve learned that I hate online classes, but that I can still get through them. I’ve learned that some friendships can stay alive through the amazing technology we have. I’ve learned that I like a flexible-ish schedule. I’ve learned that to accomplish schoolwork, or even to feel better overall, sometimes I need to take a step back from technology. I am grateful for all this. They are valuable friendships, lessons in contentment, and even some growth that are unique to this season. And this reminds me... 2. God can use any decision I make - even this - for His glory.To be honest, when I made this decision, I didn't even pray about it. I mean, I prayed but I didn't necessarily hear a voice saying, "Go do homeschooling." So I let that beat me up. And I don’t know about you, but it’s kinda hard to see the good among the bad. What will my life look like from here, now that I’ve lost friendships and one-quarter of band through my high school career? Will I ever have those back again?? Did I make the wrong decision?! “Hold up,” says a still, small voice. “I know the thoughts that I think toward you. They’re thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11). Perhaps this is where God wanted me this year. The Bible says that God works all things together for my good—even the decisions I might regret (Romans 8:28). Even though a month ago I made a decision without completely hearing His voice, from now on I'll try to be more sensitive in my decisions. But for this one, I can't change the past. I can only change how I see this, and as I trust that He can use this for my good, I will also trust that the best is yet to come. No looking back now. Time for the future.
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Lily Calicois an aspiring composer, writer, artist and musician. Archives
March 2018
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