I Never Set Out

All through our lives we make plans.  When we are little it might be for play dates or sleepovers with our friends.  As we get older, we start planning what our wedding will be like, how many kids we are going to have, and maybe what our perfect house would be.  And even later in life we start looking forward to retirement and think about all the things we will get to do now that we finally have the time.

I had plans and ideas too, but so many things that have happened to me were so different than how I imagined they would be.

I never set out to teach high school.  I said I wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole.  Yet that is where God led me.  Because of Him, I got to relate to some amazing young adults and share God with them.  Now I call many of them friends and they pray for me.

I never set out to marry a short man.  I just wasn't going to be the tall one in the relationship.  Yet that's what God sent me.  He sent me a man who was short in stature but strong in love.  He loves the Lord and shows it every day by how he cares for me and my family.  He took his vows of in sickness or in health seriously.  I couldn't be more grateful.

I never set out to have twins.  I always said I wouldn't wish twins on my worst enemy.  Yet, that's what God gave me.  Through those twins I learned the meaning of "doubly blessed" and "doubly loved".  It's just a different kind of love that you can't explain.  Those twins, and my daughter, know how to love me even on my sickest days.  God gave them that ability.  I couldn't be more thankful.

I never set out to live in a small house.  I had lived in one with 5 brothers and it was always tight.  I wanted a larger home with space for everyone and room for entertaining.  Yet, that's what God gave me.  But even with a small house, we have filled it with so many memories of our kids and parties.  We can squeeze over 20 people in here when we have to, and it all works out fine.  I couldn't feel more blessed.

I never set out to have cancer.  In fact, after my mom died, I was going to do everything possible to avoid getting cancer.  The screenings, the blood work, the surgeries were all going to be done so I could be here a long time for my family.  But God allowed the cancer to come.  He didn't cause it, sin did that.  Yet through it all, I have experienced more of God's grace than I ever knew what was around.  My family is closer and loves to be together because of it.  Thousands of people have prayed for me because of it.  I started blogging and God used that to spread His Word.  We have been blessed with more cards, gifts, money and food it's been overwhelming.  And because of the hard journey, I have been able to feel Christ's strength in me.  I have only been able to overcome and get through things because of His strength.

I'm sure you can see the point of all of this.  While it's not wrong to make plans, we need to let God alter them because He knows what is best for us.  He knows how He is going to keep us close to Him.  The two verses below sum it up very well.

If you ever feel a tug at your heart that maybe you need to go a different direction, listen closely to that tug.  Pray about that tug.  Because when God leads you in that different direction than you set out to do, you will received more blessings than you ever thought possible.