“Don’t be so afraid it’s going to rain that you sit and miss a sunny day to avoid the circumstance” I thought this was a lesson I had learned last year about this time, but apparently it was just the beginning of a lesson that would take me a while to get down.

It was towards the beginning of 2009 when Dad came to my room and broke the news to me “Looks like we’ll be moving to Oklahoma”. I knew there was a chance this might happen, but I had tried to shut it out of my mind…I didn’t want to think about it until we knew for sure. Having lived in the beautiful state of Washington for seven years, I was quite content with where I was in my life. So far, my “core” growing up years had taken place in this home that backed up to the horse ranch where six years prior I had started taking riding lessons and working. Through that ranch I had met my current instructor, trainer, 2^nd mom and good friend, Allison and her family, who I love dearly. I was in my senior year of high-school and planed on apprenticing to train horses with Allison in the fall of 2009. All of my best friends lived within 20 minutes of my house…life was good.  A flood of emotions rushed over me as I tried to contemplate what was happening. All of the friends I’d have to say goodbye to, all my plans for the year following high-school, all the beautiful places I’d be leaving behind, the huge chore of moving my horse across the country! The last few months I had been hoping against hope and praying harder than I’ve ever prayed that we wouldn’t have to move if it could at all fit in to God’s plan. Prayers had now been answered…with a no. Let one of the hardest lessons of my life begin! Contentment, trust, happiness….these are the things that seemed so difficult for me to keep close to my heart that year. Before this news, if you asked any of my friends to describe me in one word…most would use words like “happy!” and “joyful”…that reputation felt difficult to hold on to in the spring of 2009. How could I be happy when in just a few short months I’d have to say goodbye to the people and places I love most? The people and places that have made me who I am! I could hardly stand the idea. It was during that time when I came across one of my favorite scriptures.  Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again; Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”  By this scripture, I was reminded that my joy should come from the Lord, not from a place on the map. I also started to realize I could either be worried and sad about the storm that was about to come, or I could be thankful and make the most of the time in the calm before the storm. So, during the summer of 2009 I tried to put the goodbyes that were to come out of my mind…I focused on the time I had with my friends and worked to make the most of it. I went on an ab-normal amount of coffee dates, trail rides, and shopping sprees just to spend as much time as possible with my dear friends. I’m so thankful I was able to take the lesson to heart and create memories from that summer that will last a life time.

My advice to you: Don’t be so worried about the storm you know is coming that you miss the miracle of the moment you are living in. This is the only moment we can do anything about…so breathe it in, be thankful for and make the most of this time God has given you. And read Philippians 4:4 on a daily basis! ;)

(Kelci L. Goad)