New Beginnings

I noticed the newly mowed lawn at the recently sold home across the street. One 10' x 5' patch was noticeably a good inch or so shorter than the rest. Then I met the sweet new neighbor. She looked no older than my son, so young and eager to greet the world.
"This is our first home!" she burbled delightfully, "And my first time ever mowing."
We both glanced at the patch.
"I didn't know there were levels on a lawn mower," she admitted laughing.
"Don't worry," I told her, "Neither did I."

I am so glad this sweet young couple has moved into our neighborhood. Married just a year, first home, first dog, first unevenly mowed lawn....I can't wait to see the new baby that should follow soon. All us grey haired neighbors will be ready to swoop in and offer all our wisdom, love, and advice. The sweet young couple may soon not be quite as excited over all the attention young blood brings to an established neighborhood.

I love seeing the glowing anticipation of all that lies before a young couple. I love the expectation of blessings flowing like a waterfall into their outstretched arms. We of the grey hair know that it will not all be as easy as it looks to those eager-eyed newbies of life, but their enthusiasm is infectious and reminds me of how every new day should be embraced.

"We just wandered from room to room, last night," said my bright eyed young neighbor, "And kept saying, 'This is OURS! We OWN this!"
When I went home, I glanced at the beautiful cathedral ceilings of my home, the sunroom, the wood floors we installed ourselves. I am glad for all of it, but I don't wander room after room exulting in my home anymore, though I did when we first bought it. It is all familiar now, comfortable, and I know every nook and cranny.

I remember when I first came to know God. I could not get enough of reading the Bible. I poured over the pages, hour after hour, incredulous that I had never understood the power, the magnificence, the promise, the blessing, the utter JOY of its message. Now, when I open my Bible, a quiet peace usually descends, but it is always tempered. It is not the same as it was when I first met God. Now He is an old friend. I focus less on all the blessings, and understand a little more of all the trials. He is there with me, through all of them, but now I understand He was never meant to prevent them.

I glance outside at the perky new neighbor and am glad for youth, and the optimistic outlook of new beginnings.

Revelation 2:4-5,8,10-11 (NIV)
Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. [5] Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. [8] “To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. [10] Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown. [11] Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death.






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