A New Beginning Or A Beautiful Ending?

Sometimes, people are so concerned with making a new beginning for themselves, that they forget to make a beautiful ending.

Time and time again, I've seen people struggle with discontentment (myself included at times). Sometimes we get wrapped up in these ideas that if we had the right house, a better car, a better spouse, etc THEN we'd be happy. Sometimes people get so deep into these ideas, that they completely uproot their lives. They pack their things, move away, divorce their spouse, and begin a new life. Their heart cries, "new beginning!" All the while they leave a path of destruction behind them. They take all the beautiful things about their previous life and toss them in the dumpster.....and then they wake up one morning and realize that even after starting over, they still aren't happy. They might get the new car. Maybe they get the better house. But that house is no longer filled with pictures of their loved ones that once filled their hearts with overwhelming joy. The door frames of that new house aren't covered in pencil that marked the growth rate of their children. There is no red stain on the bedroom floor from where your spouse spilt the wine on valentines day and you both broke out in laughter. There is no dent in the garage door from when you were first teaching your son how to drive and he accidentally went in reverse. (A dent that always brings a smile to your face when you remember what it was like before he grew up and moved out) And that black dress that is now shoved to the back of your closet is nothing but a memory of the dates you had with a man you once loved with all of your heart but gave up on......maybe just maybe, we should stop striving for a new beginning and start striving for a beautiful ending.....for me, I'd like to grow old with my husband. I wouldn't mind living in the same old house after years and years. And someday, when I'm old and grey, I'd like to be buried in my black dress. I think that would be a beautiful ending.

Sometimes, people are so concerned with making a new beginning for themselves, that they forget to make a beautiful ending.

James 1:17 NIV
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.