Only God Can Change a Sunset into Sunrise

 

Last year was a sunset for me. However, God has been true to His character and made my life into a sunrise. Our family has been through some personal struggles in the last year and, sadly enough, the last year has felt like a time warp. However, God has kept me and the family going through it all. He has never left my side. Never.

 

I have found it hard to write on my blog because I’ve always been someone who says it like it is. I have not minced my words. I have been transparent in so many ways of my life. However, I find myself in a new position of needing privacy as God provides healing and understanding through this trial in our lives. That has left me speechless to a certain extent. Honestly, I have learned a lifetime of wisdom in the last year that would bring Him glory but, once again, I feel God wanting us to wait.

 

I can share that I’ve learned…to hold loosely to things, not to rely on myself  but only on God, not to judge people based on my perception of them, to let God deal with hurt, to let God love when you cannot love in return, to enjoy the stars in the sky, to savor the simple things like a family dinner or a good glass of wine, to pray with my husband every night, to be thankful for a warm home and a paycheck, not to rely on my feelings but on God’s truth, to forgive myself in addition to others, to cry tears of joy in church, to trust that God loves my kids more than I do, to fall in love with my husband for new reasons, to look forward to heaven without fears, to celebrating struggles in life.

 

One new thing in this sunrise of my life is a new job. This does not mean that I am done with photography. Not at all. I had a very successful photography year and am gearing up for another one. I’ve been so blessed with some of the nicest customers in the world. I cannot tell you how many of my clients have blessed me with words of encouragement through this last year - some who knew I was struggling and some who had no idea. I’ve had clients full of grace as I tried to keep my personal life separate from my business life, but sometimes failed.

 

So I’m sure you are all curious about my new job and why…Well, I have all four kids in school full-time which means I have extra time on my hands in addition to a little extra tuition bill at school. The wonderful Michigan economy has not harmed my business – but, it’s not a prime opportunity for business growth to the extent that we need it financially. I decided to keep my ears open and asked friends to do the same for opportunities that would fit my personality and abilities. Well, a friend of mine had a neighbor whose place of work, Serendipity Publishing, was looking for an Accounting Coordinator. (For those of you who don’t know, I graduated with a BA in Accounting.) And the two blessings of this job are…it’s part-time flexible and it’s a group of really fun people. I officially started between Christmas and New Years and feel right at home already. It’s has been going great and I’ve learned about all the great lunch places in downtown, sushi, meal planning for dinnertime, Saturday laundry triathlons, and the need to explain to my kids… “if we are late for school, then mom’s late for work and I have a boss now.”

 

So the picture is from Sunday. Mark and I decided to head out to the beach to watch the sunset. We could tell that it was going to be gorgeous. It was bitterly cold and I was in pain by the end of the trip. It gave me a quick moment of reflection and I realized that God has a way of, not only turning sunsets into sunrises, but He making sunsets (as sad as they can be) absolutely beautiful. He makes everything beautiful in His time. I have no doubt about that.

Comments

[Jenny]

Beautiful sunset. Love ya.

[Carrie]

Beautiful post, beautiful picture. You'll be in my prayers.

[Brett]

It's good to see a new post! (You probably didn't know that I check in regularly hoping something new will be here :) ) I hope that this year might be a bit kinder to you, but we never know! Life always throws you for a loop, but at least that keeps things interesting.
I'm glad you're enjoying the new job. Hope to see you sometime soon!
Love, Brett.

[Laurie]

Beautiful post Steph.

[Brigitte]

You don't know me more than likely, I found your blog through a friends blog and click on it for the pictures. Amazing. But this post is more of a message from God to me than you realize. Thank you for writing it. I needed to hear these points LOUD and clear. I hope that my sunrise will be as glorious.