Golden Opportunity

“Charlie is going to freak out,” I thought, as the left eye of his precious “Curly Bear” became a scrumptious snack for our four-legged family member.

With a few suggestions in mind and injured bear in hand, I revealed the mishap to a wide-eyed toddler. Following a few silent moments of contemplation, he gently took his bear from me and held it close to his chest. He looked up and proclaimed, “It’s okay. I’ll just change his name to One-Eyed Bear!”

One-Eyed Bear escorted Charlie everywhere… even to “Grandma Camp” (a fun-filled week in the summer at Grandma and Grandpa’s house). The kids returned home with another name change announcement. Apparantly, Charlie was inspired during a craft project involving beads; one thing led to another and the result was… Golden-Eyed Bear!

That gem of an eye has stood the test of time, right along with the loyal friendship between a much bigger boy and his oldest stuffed pal.

Such a sweet story of love and resilience. But I also see how we might all relate to Curly/One-Eyed/Golden-Eyed Bear. I can certainly think of some giant life changes that created a different version of the same me. While they don’t always come with a name change, most often these times are marked by something removed from our life or something added.

Marriage. Career change. Losing a loved one. Graduation. Relocation. Divorce. Job loss. New baby. Illness. Retirement. Disability. Empty nest. Major changes that shift our direction, our perspective, our purpose, our identity. Transitions that can leave us grieving what has been left behind… even when the nature of the change is “happy.”

I’m wondering what is resonating with you, what new place you may find yourself in. And I pray we can all rest in the promise that regardless of what is shifting, every life change carries the hope of a brilliant new beginning. Ecclesiastes 3:11 tells us that God has made everything beautiful for its own time. For its own time. When that time ends, there is more beauty around the corner if we watch for it.

Whenever we enter a new place with a “new name,” we can ask ourselves what God wants of us. Even if the change is unwelcome or scary, God is there, ready to share a blessing that could never be found standing still. He is there- with a golden opportunity.

“We can trust that change is not a life hindrance, but a life occurrence acting as a stepping stone toward God’s best for us.” Kristen Strong