Is there grace in change?



I can’t believe it’s already the middle of April!  Tax Day is here, April showers are doing their best to bring on some May flowers, and summer is (hopefully!) just around the corner.  We are becoming much more awake from our “winter slumber” and trying to spend more time outdoors.  Where I live, we are trying to coax the sun out more often.  He’s being a bit shy now, but I am certain he’ll get over it. 

Since we last met, I have had surgery.  It was a minor, laparoscopic procedure, which is supposed to mean a week or so of recovery then back to the races.  I have had two previous such procedures and this was the case both times.  However, “third time’s a charm”, as they say.  Only, in this instance it wasn’t in a good luck aspect – I developed an infection in my belly-button incision area.  After 7 days of high-powered antibiotics and additional rest, I’m finally beginning to feel like I might recover from this ordeal (it was questionable for a few days – much pain and swelling.  Not fun!).  As I work from home, being confined to my house didn’t keep me from working, but it did limit the hours I put in.  I usually did well in the mornings but by early afternoon I was done.  I’m thankful for the caring and loving clients I have who encouraged me to continue in my good self-care. And, since I was house-bound, I didn’t mind that it rained cats and dogs nearly every day! 

There are a few silver linings to be found in any situation if you just look for them.  I could dwell on the fact that on surgery day, I went from checking in at 10:00 am, to finally being wheeled into surgery at 6:00 pm (FIVE emergency C-sections – those babies just can’t be kept waiting!), or that I developed the infection.  However, I’m choosing to be thankful for my work-from-home business and fabulous clients. And yes, the rain! With this ordeal nearly behind me, I am looking ahead to warmer weather and sunshine, and getting back into a regular work and exercise routine. 

Once again, my word ‘change’ has come into play in my life.  Although the surgery was planned (not an emergency), it did happen quickly from the time my doctor decided we needed to get it done.  We didn’t mind; my husband and I wanted me to be recovered before we got into our summer busyness (camping, fishing, concerts, back patio sitting).  So, I began coordinating with my clients on projects, expecting I’d only be recuperating for a few days.  As of my writing this, it’s been 3 weeks, which is more in line with recovering from a regular, cut-you-open surgery.  I was extended an abundant amount of grace as my clients and I dealt with the constant change of my work schedule.  It’s one thing when change affects your own life; quite another when your change affects others.  Flexibility and working with wonderful, like-minded people is one of the main reasons I became a Virtual Assistant.  Yes, I hated how my extended recovery was interfering with my clients’ schedules and deadlines.  Yet, every one of my amazing clients was understanding and gracious, which helped alleviate my guilt.  Guess what?  They all were embracing change in their own lives and businesses!  Yay to awesome clients!  In my other life working a J – O – B, this would most certainly not have been the case, as it was with my husband, who had to scramble to take some extra time off when my surgery got extended, plus an afternoon off to rush me back to my doctor to look at the infection.  I’m thankful for the people I work with, and to finally feel like I’m nearing the end of the recovery road!

When has change in your life deeply impacted others around you (family, employers, friends), and how did they respond?

 
To abundant grace, and a beautiful spring!

www.RobinPine.com 





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