Finding God in the Changes

Michelle Nott reflects on recent events that caused a change in her daily routine, and considers how to deal gracefully with the unexpected. 

My 15-month-old was sick and seemed miserable, so I decided to take him urgent care to get looked at. He sounded noisy while breathing, so I assumed they would give him breathing treatment and then we’d be on our way. However, after having two treatments, an X-ray of his lungs, and some medicine, the doctor at urgent care decided to call an ambulance to bring him to the ER at the children’s hospital where he was diagnosed with croup.  

Needless to say, I was not expecting to be taking an ambulance ride that day. My time at the hospital was spent taking care of my son and making calls and sending emails to make sure my other kids were taken care of.  

Processing Change as a Mom 

I have never been someone who has embraced change willingly. If someone changes the plans last-minute, I try to fake flexibility but internally I am spiraling and it takes me a few minutes or longer to process the change in plans and come to terms with it.   

As a mom, my schedule is always up in the air. Nothing is certain, because at any moment one child could get sick or need something and then the rest of the schedule is off for the remainder of the day. Bedtime is another time of day when nothing is guaranteed, no matter how hard I try to keep a good routine. Some nights might be great, and others might involve some night-time wakeups. Or, as the kids get older, activities might pop up at the last minute.  

That was what my September was like. Luckily, my son received two more treatments at the hospital and was ready to go home later that day. We were so lucky to not be admitted. Unfortunately, the virus he had spread to some of his siblings, and I found myself once again taking an ambulance ride with one of my kids a week later to get more breathing treatments at the hospital.  

My whole routine for September was messed up, and any chance of normalcy was dependent on others’ schedules and whether they could help me watch some kids so I could get some time for myself as well. I am so thankful that I have that community available to me.  

During the time my kids were sick, I had people willing to babysit my sick kids so I could still go to the gym for an hour or take the healthy ones to Mass on Sunday. I also had people drop their plans and rush over to our house to stay with the kids and wait with me as I waited for the ambulance to arrive.  

The change in routine was so stressful for me, because it tore apart what I thought I could rely on. But it also makes me realize that sometimes (OK, all the time) I try to control everything. It keeps my anxiety at bay. But it also can keep God away.  

Finding God in the Changes 

Last month gave me evidence that especially when my routine was messed up, I felt God’s presence in my life more and invited Him in more by inviting others in my community into my life for help. It forced me to practice humility and accept help when normally I would try to handle things on my own. God showed Himself to me through the generous actions of others around me last month.  

But the crazy thing is that He is always there, even during the days where I follow my normal routine. I just don’t always invite Him in. And I realize that is something that needs to change. There is that word again. Maybe not all changes are bad. Sometimes, we need to add a little bit of good change into our lives so that we aren’t missing out on creating a stronger relationship with God.  

Routines are good too: necessary, even, to provide a good structure of reliability for our kids. But we should also allow some wiggle room in there for fun moments, and flexibility for those days or weeks when everyone in the family gets sick.  

But if you’re finding that your current daily routine is lacking some prayer time, maybe it is time to embrace a little change in your routine to make space for God. That can look like finding Him in prayer, nature, or others in your community. 

What is God asking you to change in your life? 

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Copyright 2025 Michelle Nott
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