Amalia, left, with Libby, right, as they hiked from the south to the north of Israel, Spring 2013

Tomorrow is my daughter Amalia’s birthday. I was reading an old journal and found notes from this time, 1989, in which I wrote, “Fear of baby#3!!!” I already had two sons, aged 4 and 2. Yikes! (This was nothing – 17 months after Amalia came Libby and then I added 2 step-kids!) But I didn’t know that then.

Knowing we’re going to have to make a change is truly frightening—but sometimes, these changes push us in a direction we never thought possible. The changes force us to dig in and be our truest, strongest selves. We learn to rely on our friends. New people miraculously appear in our lives. We plug into the hidden, buzzing strength of the universe.

There are many days when we still have to be our own cheerleaders and push ourselves forward. There are some changes that are filled with sorrow – like the loss of a loved one. But time moves ahead and as my mother said right before she died, “All good things must come to an end.” We can take comfort in knowing that the bad things come to an end, too.

If I know a change is headed my way, I will trust that it’s right for me. I might greet it kicking and fighting. But things in our lives are going to change whether we want them to or not. I might not like these changes but I will try to open my heart and to be willing to try to accept those changes as part of my life’s journey. The changes might not bring us happiness but accepting them will bring a measure of peace in our hearts.

Tool for Tuesday: Changes in life are inevitable. Let me be willing to move from kicking and screaming to accepting those changes as part of my spiritual homework.