When fear and uncertainty knock at my door, I grasp whatever I remember to be true and tested.

Even though o have followed my own career path, (and what a gift to be able to even say that) I look at how my mom did life, and how she made it to retirement, tired and fulfilled, unquestioning her value, her worth, her abilities. If I get closer though, and I listen beneath the surface, I realize the struggle that went on in her generation. Her was the after war childhood, in an era where 90% of the world was rural and agrarian, to becoming in a few decades 90% urban and industrialized. Women had to work, because that was the agenda of comunism. Doubling the workforce laid off in spades. Child rearing was disrupted, and the state stepped in to “help” and educate according to its agenda and values. It was actually quite successful because a lot of things coming out of this mass change was good. Kids were in school, not in the field. Women were ripe for work and what a driven group of people they were. Inteligent and happy to gain independence.
My grandmother was a widow in her 30s. Raised her 5 kids on the farm, with only a stipend from the state, enough for electricity and taxes, oil and sugar, the things she couldn’t produce on her farm. She was happy to be even this much independent. As kids we gathered dry wood from the pine forest in the back yard. She must have bought wood also. I remember the pile we would go and bring into the house in the winter. For that reason, I thought we were rich to live in the city, and come home to a heated house where we didn’t have to make a fire, and we had dining water. My grandmother had a classic well in the yard.

I don’t think my mom had much time or inclination to compare. She did the best she could, and was happy with the progress she saw under her own eyes. She also made me believe that I will easily surpass her as she knew my opportunities will be wildly more than we could imagine. She was right. I went to college. I went to America in my early 20s. My world view was wild compare to what she knew and what she had in her 20s. Change was drastic and her kind was flexible to accept change and inspire me to do the same.

I think of my kids and my generation of parents. We think we are at the top of the progress. We fight or fear change more than my parents vegetation did. Or maybe not. Our mind can’t grasp it, for sure, as change happens exponentially faster. With technology and communication and shared resources around the world.

I can’t imagine what jobs my kids will have. I hope I give them a good example of world thing and the joy and fulfillment in work, în providing for the family, in doing what needs to be done even if you don’t feel like it, but in the same breath pursue your passion. Find out what you love to do, what you are naturally gifted in. It’s a complex dance, but a dance we must learn the steps for so we could dare step on the dance floor with confidence, or courage to be silly, and free.

In all this, the one constant has been true for hundreds of years, millennia even, is pursuing God, knowing Him, loving Him, no matter the life context we have. His laws are good. Our soul rests in Him, He is unchanged.

Let’s ask ourselves early and often: what is our core belief. Can we stand on solid ground no matter what the world is or is changing to? Can our soul rest in the midst of chaos. In a generation gripped by anxiety, what is the best gift we can give the next generation? An example of faith, courage and generous love. Our pursuit of God, as he pursues us as well. An honest life, free, free from the voices that deafen us, social media, social expectations. A Humble life. No matter how it looks from the outside. May we all pursue peace on the inside. A quiet spirit. A content heart. Even in the midst of trials.