Hi! How are you? What a worried expression you have! Your room . . . it looks like there's been an explosion. And those boxes, they're everywhere. The closet is empty! Oh, I understand now, your dad has been transferred. Of course, that means you have to move too. I'm sure all kinds of thoughts are whirling in your head.
Your mind is probably full of the following emotions: sadness, fear and anxiety. You're probably feeling a little sorry for yourself and you feel like rebelling. It's okay to feel sad, You're leaving your friends, teachers, school and your room . . . a place all your own, a place where you can be alone with your thoughts. There you have prayed and you have dreamed. There you awaken each day and hear your dear mom's voice and smell the rich aroma of your breakfast she has prepared. Everything in your room is familiar to you.
There is sadness because you will miss your school, your teachers and your friends. The school is your second home and some of your teachers and friends are like family.
Perhaps the rebellious and angry feelings arise because you know you will have to leave your best friend, the friend who knows all of your secrets, the friend you talk to everyday. Leaving a best friend is incredibly hard. Your heart feels heavy.
And what about your girlfriend? Did you already draw a heart with your two initials inside? Oh, the thought of leaving the first love is terrible. Do you feel like its the end of the world? Do you worry that she will forget you?
Are you feeling afraid and anxious about the unknown? Are you fearful of the move? Are you asking yourself the following questions: What will the new school be like? Will I have a room to myself? Will I find friends like those I left behind? Who will I talk to on the first day of school?
Amid all the despair and sadness you are feeling, take heart. Though moving can be traumatic, there are things you can do to make the transition easier. Plan to write to your old friends. Look forward to making new friends. Think of the conversations you can have; because you are a newcomer, you bring new experiences to discuss. You can share information about other people and discuss places you have been. You have probably moved several times in your short life. As a rule you will be better in geography, history, natural science, etc., because you have experienced it and not just learned about it in books.
What about all that "junk" you have collected, you know, the stuff you've been meaning to throw away but just never got to. Well, moving gears you up to throw away useless items that are just taking up space.
What about all the mistakes you've made and regretted? Haven't you often wished you could begin anew and not repeat them? A move provides this opportunity. You will go to a new church and a new school. There no one knows your faults or failures. What a golden opportunity!
Did you know that Jesus had experiences with moving? He was born in Bethlehem but shortly thereafter, God transferred his earthly parents, Joseph and Mary, to a pagan country, Egypt. This saved his life as Herod wanted to kill him. Later another move came. When he was a child, he returned to his native country and went to live in Nazareth, a place with a bad reputation. Throughout His life, Jesus frequently moved. He understands the upheaval that occurs in the lives of those who are constantly moving.
Have you thought about your mom? She too has to adapt to the changes brought about by a move. She has to rearrange all the household things in the new house and transform the new home into a warm and comforting place for her dear ones.
A house cannot be a home without love. No matter where or how often you move, if there is love, there is happiness. Help your mother make your new house a loving home. Hang the curtains, paint the front door, nail a few boards, do something to help create a loving home for you and your family.
As you think about how the move will affect your life, don't just dwell on the negative changes. Think of the positive ways your life will be affected by the move. Be optimistic about the move and look forward to a change.
Being a child of a minister can sometimes be difficult because moving is a way of life. But remember, you belong to a special family, a family chosen by God, a family that has all the responsibilities and privileges of being God's family.
One of these responsibilities is to speed up the return of the Lord Jesus. When the good news is spread to all corners of this earth, the wickedness in this world will end. The Church needs to put an Adventist presence is every place in this world so that when the moment arrives, a loud cry will go out that there is no one else to warn and there will be a bounteous harvest for heaven.
Dear Child, your parent is a pastor and pastors have a God-given responsibility to use their knowledge and strength to advance the preaching of the Gospel. That responsibility may seem very heavy at times but it is also a beautiful blessing.
When your heart is heavy because you have to move, remember, "And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed" (Deut. 31:8).
