What a busy life my days produce. Mommy to five and among them a baby, wife of a Pastor, friend, homemaker, shower taker, meal maker, laundry doer and all else that fills my days. Seems that Blogger has not made it to the list of planned or that of the unexpected until now.
Oh the unexpected! From the spilled milk dripping from table to floor and atop the happy, no longer clean dog, to the uneven load in the washer that dances and jumps its way across the room, to a comb so tangled in your daughter's hair you fear the only solution is to make her partially bald. Yes I speak from actual experience from just this past week. The unplanned. The unexpected when it strikes it can derail the plans once held on a day. That has been the picture of my life. The shadow that hangs over every day. I have now begun to plan, make room, make allowance for the unexpected. I have come to expect, the unexpected. It almost always seems to make an appearance.
I am so encouraged by the truth we find in the Word of God. "The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps." Proverbs 16:9. I am thankful to know that it is God whom guides my steps. It is He whom establishes what my day will be. I praise God that in that unplanned moment of untangling a comb from a little girl's hair, a memory was made that I would have NEVER put on the day's agenda. I became a star in my children's eyes as they watched me with great determination free the once, tightly bound comb. Valuable lessons were given platform in that unexpected moment. As my children watched me not give up but instead get creative. I cut the combs teeth, broke the handle with my "super mom" strength amazing my children and teaching them once again, not to give up when faced with a challenge. Along with also learning, never spin, twirl or twist a comb in your hair, they also learned of God's faithfulness. God was faithful to answer my plea for wisdom and patience to untangle the unplanned mess my day now set before me. It is God whom establishes our steps. It is He whom holds the final plan on our days and honestly I wouldn't want it any other way. Would you? Who better to have the final say, than the Creator of the Universe!
My prayers are with you... yes you! That we would welcome all that God has planed and not be frustrated when our day does not follow our attempt on planning a day we can not see. A future we do not know. But rather that we trust the one who does.
Here is a story of a little girl named Jessica Joy Rees (link to her Facebook page) and her family who had a BIG unexpected... not with in their plans for life. On March 3, 2011 Jessica was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. On January 5, 2012 Jessica went home to be with the Lord. I encourage you, if you have not already, spend time seeing how Jessica and her family took the unexpected and allowed God to use it for His glory. I know you will be encouraged and humbled as I have been. My prayers and heart go out to Jessica's family.P.S. The Rees family attend Saddleback Church in Southern California where her father is one of the Pastors. Also a church I once called home and my parents still do.