Blog: New journey
Text: Tarja Korri
Translation: Sirkka-Liisa Leinonen
I am more than fifty years old, and I have never had any big plans for life. My life has simply passed from one stage to the next. I was born into a believing family in Nivala, where I have lived there all my life except for one single year. In addition to my parents and siblings, my grandfather also lived in our home. He was dear and important to me. I was Grandpa’s girl. He took care of me when I was little, and I took care of him later when he was sick.
When I look back at the past, I can see that I have had a good and blessed life. I could not have had any better plan for myself. After high school, I did not enroll in the study program that was available, because I had also been offered a job. I was given a spouse and children and a new home. We had fifteen children, of whom one only lives in our memories. In between the children, I worked for altogether thirteen years. I am grateful to my employers, who taught me to work and interact with people and also to manage life in general. I have now been a stay-at-home mother for more than 20 years, and that has suited me well. My husband and I started an enterprise more than 20 years ago, and that has provided me an opportunity to work. I have been able to do most of that work at home.
Thinking about life, I often wonder about the future. Even when we were younger, we were aware that our plans could be altered any time by a sudden illness or some other unexpected factor, but now I tend to feel that life is a bit uncertain all the time. If I have a plan that reaches even slightly beyond tomorrow, I tend to prefix it with ‘if’. The only certain thing is that God knows our future and will guide us through it.
I remember I very much enjoyed learning new letters and writing them tidily between the lines in my exercise book. I started by writing on lines and then moved on to write freely. And there was nothing more fun at school than writing in cursive and writing stories.
I could never have guessed at that time that I would be offered a big opportunity like this to write for an audience. When I was asked about my willingness, I needed to think about it overnight before accepting. I would love to, but how dare I? The idea of blogging for three years seemed a long time and a big effort. What would I have to give to a reader in a life situation very different from mine? If any reader recognizes him- or herself in my text, they can be sure that their role has been important and significant for me and has deeply affected my life.
As a novice blogger, it seems safe to know that my employer is merciful. They have promised to advise and correct me. I do not need to be alone with my thoughts. I hope I can write about the joy of believing, my gratitude for life and the prospects of hope and love. I expect, however, that there will be moments when light is overshadowed by sorrow and even fear. Those moments are part of this journey. And the name of this journey is Life.
Minä odotan Herraa kuin vartijat aamua, hartaammin kuin vartijat aamua. Ps. 130:6
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