Time to Migrate?
There is a great migration going on right now, and I’m not referring to
caribou, elk or buzzards. It is happening all around us…the migration of
grandparents leaving their homes to relocate closer to their grown children and
grandchildren. Several couples we know have done this recently, as well as one
friend who moved from Bakersfield to Seattle two years ago so
that she could be a ‘Granny nanny’ for her young granddaughter.
It is a big change for those
involved in this migration—pulling up roots from places they’ve called home for
decades, leaving behind friends and relatives, saying good-bye to church
families, retiring from careers and organizations in which they have been very
involved, sorting and packing their belongings and heading out.
“What lies ahead?” I’m sure that question
weighs upon their minds. Anyone who moves to a new area faces many
uncertainties. This is especially true for seniors, who often resist change and
new beginnings. One exception to this was my great-aunt, Winifred Herron, who
sold her house in McCloud, California,
packed up her car and drove by herself across the country to be near her
daughter and family in Plymouth,
Michigan. Aunt Winnie, as we
called her, was a very plucky lady.
After having so many friends who have
made big, cross-country moves, I’ve started thinking about the future for Al
and myself too. Suppose we were to move closer to our family in Detroit. Would I, a second
generation Californian, be able to survive the harsh winters? One local couple who made the move east just
before winter, found the adjustment very difficult and recently decided to
relocate closer to their son who lives in a warmer climate.
Would there be enough for us
both to do? How would we fit into the lives of our family without invading
their space, and vice versa? Of course, it would be wonderful to be there as
our four grandchildren grow up. It’s hard to imagine continuing the pattern of
flying out to see them two or three times a year indefinitely.
Then there is also the prospect of
needing more care as we grow older and become less independent. The future is
secluded, mysterious and somewhat scary. Our lives are going to change whether
we want them to or not. There is no possibility of going back in time or even
of keeping the status quo.
Al has assured me that we can continue
living here in our Springville home for the time being and that he’s willing to
travel to Michigan as often as I’d like. There are folks here who can help out
with yard work and maintenance when needed; so it doesn’t look like a big
change is in the near future.
But how do we know the answers to
“if,” “when,” and “where” we should move? It’s a matter of trusting God for
wisdom, strength and the courage to make the right decision. He will guide us,
just as He promises to do for all of His children who put their trust in Him.
After all, He loves us!
“Do
not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with
thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which
transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ
Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 NIV
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