Moments that changed my life, Part 5

2001.

It was one of the most life-changing years of my life.  I don't have time to write about every event and how it affected me, but I will list just some of the things that occurred.

*I finished my first year of teaching
*My sister-in-law was diagnosed with MS
*I got my heart broken
* I was in a pretty serious car accident
*My sister had to have a major surgery
*My grandfather's health continued to falter
*I quit my first teaching job
*I got another job teaching, but this time in Indiana
*I moved back to Indiana
*I lived on my own for the very first time
*I began to help with the youth at Chapel Hill
*I met  David
*9/11 occurred


Needless to say, it was a pretty traumatic year.  Through all of the ups and downs, I learned that the only constant in my life is God.  As soon as I start to rely on anything or anyone more than Him, I lose focus and direction. 2001 was a hard year for me.  But as I look back on it now with some perspective, I am so thankful for the hard years, because those are the times when God really molded me and shaped me.

I am, by nature, a very social person.  I love to be around people.  I can't imagine having a job or career where I wouldn't get to interact with people on a daily basis.  But sometimes my social tendencies made me uncomfortable being alone.  2001 was a year where I learned that my God is enough.  And so many positive things have come out of those events, that I can't help but to be thankful for it all.  The good and the bad.  The highs and the lows.

If you are reading this, you might be having a year like the one I just listed.  You might be feeling like you are getting slammed with one crazy thing after another.  Let me encourage you that God is still in control and He has a plan, even if you have no idea what it is.  Even if we never find out what it is, He has a plan.