Some people are lucky enough to live their lives according to plan.
Some people marry their high school sweethearts, go on missions, finish graduate school, build hotshot careers, move from place to place as they choose. Some people have exactly the number of children they want, in exactly the amount of time and exactly the manner they expect.
I imagine it would be nice to be someone like that. Wouldn't it?
See, that's not how my life works at all.
I like to make plans, really. I've tried for years to map out my weeks, my months, my semesters. But the last few years and, especially, months of my life have shown me that sometimes it doesn't matter what you plan. You can make decisions, actively pursue a certain course, do everything possible to stay on it ... and in the end the Lord has a different plan for you. For me.
Lately, I've been thinking (surprise) about what it means to be a parent. What it means to announce to the world that you are expecting a baby, when you know too well that a hundred things could go wrong in the subsequent months and you would have to explain. What it means to bring a baby home and welcome it into your life, knowing how little you have to teach it and just how much you have to learn. What it means to accept unexpected turns in your life, without turning away from that God who sent you down this path.
Planned or no, it takes great faith, being a parent. I think it takes more faith than anything else in the world.
by FAR more faith than anything else in the world. Hats off to your mother!
ReplyDeleteAnd about the planning thing.....I had a vinyl cutout made to put in our bedroom that says "We Followed Our Hearts Rather Than Our Itinerary". For people like Tyson and I (and you =0) who like to think we know what's best and who like to keep calendars and goals and plans, it's sometimes hard to say "not my will, but Thine". But I must say, His plan is always WAY better than my own, so I find comfort in that. Just keep planning like everything depends on you and keep praying like everything depends on Him. That's what I try to do =0)
Isn't it crazy how we plan and things seem to go a different way. We had "planned" on being in med school and here we are in Roosytown headed to Optometry school...it's a good thing He knows what's best for us, because I don't know how I'd get by a day without that.
ReplyDeleteWe had a lesson on personal revelation last month and it really got me thinking about how thankful I am that we can receive guidance. It'd be a cold dark world without it if you ask me.
As for children being faith based...you betcha, but it's so worth it. Congrats again and good luck!