Ever since the recession hit a couple years ago, we have heard people talk about the “new normal”.  High Unemployment levels are the new norm.  Falling real estate values are the new norm.  Cutting expenses is the new norm. Volatile trade relations is the new norm.  Bag fees on airlines is the new norm (just had to throw that one in….sorry).  We hear it just about everywhere we go.  But is it permanent…or just a temporary norm?  How do we know?

Our Wheaten Terrier, Beau, recently had to have some stitches which meant the dreaded “cone of silence” around his head for 10 days.  The first day was very traumatic for everyone.  He was bumping into everything and then freaking out and freezing in place.  It was pitiful to watch..and a little annoying, if I was being candid.  But as the days  passed, he became more accustomed to the cone.  He now pushes his way through obstacles and does not slow up for much of anything.  He has learned to drink and eat from his food bowl and even pick up his head enough to venture up and down the stairs.  He is pretty smart, by the way.

While our family has been living this change with Beau, Lisa had an incredible revelation that has really blessed me and given me incredible hope.  She said that she had been feeling a little bit sorry for herself and our current life stage and was wondering when we would start to see light at the end of the tunnel. She did this while cuddling with Beau on the couch.  Then it hit her…does Beau realize that the cone he is wearing is only for 10 days?  Does he realize that what he  feels is his new norm is only a temporary state?  The answer to these is no.  We, as his loving family, know that the need to wear the cone is only a short term condition and that very soon, his “new norm” will be just about back to his old norm.

How about you and me?  Is what we are going through our new norm…or is it only a state of testing, trial, training, adjustment, etc?  The Lord clearly knows when he is going to “take the cone off”.  It could be tomorrow…or next week…or a year from now…or possibly never.  But that is irrelevant.  What is critical here is that we trust that God is our loving father… he loves us more than the Cool family loves Beau.  He knows exactly what is right for us to develop a relationship with Him, be trained, be stretched, to be refined…to bring HIM glory.

The question that I still grapple with is – am I willing to trust God enough to accept His plan for my life and to know that the old norm…current norm…new norm…and future norms have all been set in motion by Him, for my good…and HIS glory.

Thank you  Lord for my “cones”! May serving you and trusting you be my new….and forever normal.

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