My Family Didn’t Get the Ending Bluey’s Family Did: Here’s Why I’m Okay With It. 

I cozied up on the couch with my three kids to watch the newest Bluey episode, entitled The Sign. I had heard the internet chatter about the episode and was prepared for an emotional gut punch. (Side note: why are the most innocent sounding ones, always the ones I ended up tearing up over?) 

And we weren’t disappointed; about halfway through my 8 year old said, “This is the saddest episode of Bluey ever!”. If you haven’t watched it yet, here’s a brief, spoiler-filled synopsis: our favorite Blue Heeler family has decided to move from their home, city, and family for a “better” work opportunity. Throughout the episode the family comes to terms with this big change and their big feelings around it. 

At one point, to help Bluey process, her teacher reads the story of a man who keeps experiencing things that his friends are quick to quantify as “good luck” or “bad luck”. Instead of quickly agreeing with his friends, the main character wisely answers, “We’ll see” again and again. 

At the end of the story Bluey asks her teacher: “Is that a happy ending or a sad ending?” and the teacher replies, “It’s both. Everything will work out the way it’s supposed to, Bluey.” 

Last summer our family moved hours away to a new state. There were pros and cons to the move. Our kids didn’t understand or even know all of our reasons for making this change–they just knew that they had to start over and they missed their friends. Much like Bluey and Bingo, they didn’t want to leave the only home they remembered, filled with so many memories. It felt like bad luck to them. 

Some days it felt like that to us grownups too. My husband and I wrestled with “is this the right thing to do?”. We asked God for open doors leading up to this move and when one opened, we walked through it. That didn’t mean it wasn’t hard, emotional or we didn’t have a few regrets. 

I often want God’s will to be clear cut. For every big decision (Is this the guy? Is this the college? Is this the job? Is this the city? Is this the moment for kids? Is this the right time to retire?) I want  zero second thoughts or conflicting feelings. I want to walk forward in full assurance that we are on THE right path. 

So far, it hasn’t worked out that way for me. God’s calling on my life has become clearer over time–but it has little to do with my location or profession or circumstance. Wherever I am, I’m learning I’m called to be a loving truth-teller, an encourager, a light, a person filled with the fruit of the Spirit who is deeply attached to Jesus. 

While I want things like a move or job change to be black and white, in His will or outside His will, good or bad–I’m discovering the “we’ll see” approach is often more the way He works. 

Psalm 27:13-14 says, “I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

If the “goodness of the Lord” is a forever home or a forever city or a dream job then I will likely end up like Bluey and Bingo straining unsuccessfully to pull the (proverbial or literal) for sale sign out my lawn. I don’t want to “wait and see” or feel out of control or sad about something good ending.

But, if I believe the goodness of the Lord is simply the presence of the Lord, then each jammed coin or an inopportune potty stop becomes an eternal opportunity to live out my calling, guided by the hand of His providence for His glory and my ultimate good. I don’t have to be haunted by fear or doubt over every yes or no. 

I can say “we’ll see” because I know if I look for Him, I’ll see Him.

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.  I will be found by you,” declares the LORD. Jeremiah 29:13-14a

I can trust God will be near to my children when their life changes. I can believe in His comfort and ability to use any circumstance whether seemingly bad or good to draw me and my family nearer to Himself. 

We didn’t get the ending the Heeler family got. The sign stayed up until the new family took it down and we handed them the keys. Everything shifted in ways that felt both good and bad. 

Will it all turn out better like we hoped when we uprooted and replanted? God knows. God loves us. And we’ll see. 

Want to read more of Katie’s reflections on faith and motherhood?

• Mothers: Put On Your Own Oxygen Mask First
• You Can Have a Messy House and Be a Good Mom
• You Don’t Have to Mother Like Anyone Else