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Change is Inevitable

Janis Van Keuren

  

     My dish washing bottle of Joy detergent stood valiantly on our kitchen sink bearing a glaring red tag. A tag that said, “I’m not in demand any longer. I’m not with it.” Yet to me, it would always been the only brand of dish soap that I had ever used in our 34 years of marriage–and that I ever wanted to use. Just two months ago, we discovered that our favorite bar soap is no longer available, either.  We scoured several store shelves for our soft-on-the-skin “Camay.” Not so creamy that it dissolved in clumps on the washcloth or clogged the drain, yet not too drying either. Just right. Now, the only place to find this bar soap is online.
     Numerous products with which we have grown comfortable and confident in using just seem to disappear one day–no longer to be found in any store. Hershey’s semi-sweet chocolate chips. Betty Crocker Apple Streusel Muffin mix. Del Monte sweet relish. Toothpaste. And many more.
     Also, favorite restaurants have closed–before the economy became an issue. Places where we had celebrated anniversaries, special dates, or family birthdays. We become melancholy for that which provided us with warm, familiar settings and memories.
     Nothing remains the same these days. Especially as we live in a disposable, consumptive society. In a desperate attempt to hang onto the familiar pasta strainer that my Mom gave us as part of a shower present, Hubby pounded the rivets back into the holes. They slid out. I almost held a burial ceremony for the strainer as I placed it in the trash. The replacement lacks the Italian character of the old beat up one, and of course it lacks the link to Mom!
      Everything changes. Our bodies get older, relationships change, loved ones die, jobs change, attachments to people are lost, our children grow up, our children become independent and move out. Life is full of changes. 
     Gazing back at the bottle of “Joy”, I think to myself, “You can’t count on anything in this world lasting or remaining the same. Only one being remains the same, our unchanging God.

      “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8 NIV

     What changes are the hardest for you to handle? Do you find Christ’s unchangeable love and character a comfort in these times?

From My Heart to Yours,

Linking up with Word-Filled-Wednesday at the Internet Cafe


    

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Comments

Change is Inevitable — 15 Comments

  3. I was told by a loved one this week, “People move on”, as they moved across the United States from me. I don’t like the trend of families being scattered from one coast to the other! (By the way, do you remember Ipana toothpaste?)

  4. I am so glad He never changes. I hate throwing things like TV’s, computers, cameras out because something better has come along and you do need it but you are sure someone could use what still works. Alas…it is usually the rubbish heap and I hate it. I have just used a new beater and it is trash. The cord is half the length of the previous one so I will always have to move near a power point to use it. And it was stiff and hard to use. I may yet go back to the old one …and I was looking forward to creaming butter and sugar in this. Not any longer. glad I changed recipes.
    I used to love a dry biscuit called Uneeda…all my life until a decade ago. So much is not on the shelf any more…..it has to be popular…so spend a fortune advertising it…it has to make money…one wonders for whom.
    I am so grateful that the Gospel which is so costly is free.

  6. i am thankful that Jesus never changes. when everything around us changes, He is the only one that remain constant. therefore, we can put our complete trust in Him.

  7. Janis!

    That was FANTASTIC! Oh my word! That just really got me! wow….what an amazing analogy from a bottle of clearance dish detergent! I LOVE when God uses the ordinary (like us) to teach the amazing truth!

    This was my fave of the day! AWESOMENESS!

    peace,
    lori

  9. I think the hardest change for me is my body! As it gets older and bigger, things are beginning to break down and I am not able to do the things I used to do. This is disheartening to me. My once active life has now slowed down immensely. But even though my body is broken He still loves me and doesn’t want to throw me away for a newer and better model/product! I am HIS and always will be.

    Ceal

  10. Blessings Janis…

    So thankful that Jesus is the same and unchanging. That we can depend on Him. Awesome JOY!

    Wonderfully written and I love how you took us through many sad changes from familiar to now changed!

    My body changing is hard to handle but seeing loved ones and friends unexpectantly gone is the hardest for me still. The only comfort I draw from is that of Jesus!!! (I guess all the natural climate changes are difficult also for me because of the problems caused in natural disasters destroying many lives human and non-human ~ out of our hands but into His)!

    Thanks for a powerful contrast and pondering devo!

    Peace,
    Peggy

  11. This was so good. I can SO identify with what you are saying about changes of life. A beautiful Scripture, though, to remind us of our unchanging God.

  12. Wow. I am a bit ashamed to say that I am not sure I’ve ever thought through the changes of my life about how God is unchanging. My life has been filled with change over the last 5-10 years… without a doubt, there is more to come. Thank you so much for the reminder that no matter what changes in life, my God will always be there and be unchanging.

  13. Oh Wow! Brian and all of you ladies! Your comments have added so much to my little post. Look at what the Lord has spoken through you!

    Praise Him for His mighty revelations!

    From My Heart to Yours,
    Janis

  14. Very good!!! And so true! We have Tom’s mom’s spaghetti strainer and our own newer one—–Would you like to borrow the mom’s one sometime?. Those things are so sentimental! Love, Karen

    (from my email)

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