What does one do when they end a chapter of their life? Or rather…..how do you know that you are closing a chapter in your life…I mean without moving away, quitting a job, retirement, death, etc. Without one of those major changes, how does one even know that it is the end of that chapter?? AND what do you do when you finish the chapter?? NOW WHAT???
For personal and private reasons, I am stepping down from being a youth minister. Anyone who knows me, knows that I LOVE working with teens. I call them the “misunderstood breed.” As a mother of 3 sons with the youngest being 17, I know that ALL TEENS ARE DIFFERENT, regardless of their gender, social status, financial status, religion, or race. Most people judge them, I look at them as if they are trying to find their pre-adult status. Well…..the teenager talk is for anothe blog.
Life comes with so many chapters, some shorter than others, some more intense than others, some more full of drama and some happier. Right now I haven’t decided how to rate this chapter. I do believe that every chapter in our lives leads to the end. Every chapter somehow directly affects future chapters. People in our lives come and go but each had a purpose.
So come this Friday, I am closing this chapter in my life. I began getting involved with the youth group about 4 years ago. I love interacting with them. Belonging to a military chapel community, I have seen my share of youth come and go. While this is often a sad experience, we are also fortunate enough to meet a greater number of teens. Assuming that my health was good, my Sundays were busy because that is when we meet.
Maybe now without all the planning meetings, the looking forward to what needs to be done, looking for and reviewing future lifenights, etc etc etc I will have time to spend with my own family, listen to them, sit with them, who knows — enjoy Sunday dinners together. Now my Sundays will be spent with my own family…..I REALLY REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO THAT!!!!
It’s bittersweet…..leaving something I love but moving forward to something I love even more. It’s not like I didn’t spend time with my own family before, but now I won’t have to postpone time with them.
Bye-bye LifeTeen….Hello McNeil Family – again!!
Coffee, Wine, Sleep, Repeat 
You are so right. I didnt want to stop being a Girlscouts leader but I needed to. I started to do for my girls but after a while I felt my family was needing me more. I then decided to take a little break. I think or hope I am ready for another try at it but now for my baby girl
It was only a matter of time, however I think it would be awesome that you, hopefully very soon, start a Sunday dinner tradition. No matter what, with or without guest/girlfriends/family friends, we gather to cook and have dinner together every Sunday.
I love love love this idea!!!