| Isaiah 43:18-19 – “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” |
My car was loaded to the brim and my dad and I said goodbye to mom before leaving to drive halfway across the country. I was 20 years old and moving to the east coast to live with my oldest sister. Her husband was in the Army and had just been deployed to Germany, leaving her alone with her 6-month-old son Andy.
I was unhappy with my job as a legal secretary, and this was the perfect opportunity for me to get out of a bad situation and start over. The trip would take about 20 hours and dad wanted to drive straight through. We had his favorite snacks (orange slices), and I had a few hundred dollars along with all my possessions in suitcases and a couple of boxes.
The long drive gave dad and I many hours to talk, and I expressed my nervousness with starting a new life in a strange city so far from home. Even though I would be living with my sister for about a year until her husband came home, I would need to find a job and learn to drive in a huge city. I wasn’t sure I was ready for that.
Dad told me stories about times in his life when he moved to someplace new and started over – when he left his childhood home for the Air Force, when he moved his growing family from Minnesota to Iowa for a better job, and when he left the security of a union job to go into business for himself. All were huge risks, and he had a family to provide for. But during each change he felt God’s presence and leadership, and while there were many challenges and difficulties, he felt God’s guidance.
Dad stressed that I needed to get involved in a church right away with people my age who were in similar circumstances. And he wanted me to stay true to the values and ethics he and mom had taught me. How many times those words have replayed in my head over the years.
Prayer: Dear God – just as my earthly father gave me advice and guidance during this challenging time in my life, how much more as my Heavenly Father do you want to provide love and care for me every day. Thank you for always being there for me and opening the doors that lead to a life of devotion to you. Amen
– Betty Gossell
