It was
Spring Break and while I had no travel plans I was excited to be on my own time
and to be able get out and about and do my own thing. No clocks to beat, no
students calling my name, or set times to do or to be. I needed this time to
regroup, recuperate, and relax. Though I had a slow start at the beginning of
the week, I still had two days left to “do
my thing” (or so I thought). Thursday morning came and I was going to drop
the hubby off at work and then I could be on my way with my plans. I had already told my
boys what the plan was the night before, so even they were excited in their own
way. My husband went outside that morning to crank the car and much to our surprise it
would not say a word! So we made an attempt to get a neighbor to jump us off,
but even that didn’t work. We called our mechanic and eventually he came by and he listened to it, he looked at it, and he
worked on it. Finally he diagnosed the problem, but the part we needed wasn’t going to
be in until the morning… uugh I was so frustrated! Being a one-car family, I was stuck and didn’t
have a second option. So my Thursday was spent at home, in the house with three boys ages 8, 12 and 16. Oh and did I mention that it was raining most of the day? I was not a happy camper.
Friday comes around and I am optimistically, confident that he would get the part and repair the car. I knew we would be up and rolling by late afternoon so I made some new plans
for the day. We waited and waited and waited. After hours of anticipating the
completion of the repair job, he cranked the car up and though it cranked it
was accompanied by a screeching noise that was anything but a purring engine. I
knew it didn’t sound right. My husband went out to hear the verdict. The mechanic dropped the bad news like a ton of bricks. The part he got was not the right one (hence the screeching noise) and didn’t work as
efficiently. He went on to tell him that after calling around to the auto parts stores that it
would be another day to get a new part in! Talk about disappointed. I spiraled
down into a deeper level of frustration. I was angry. God how could you
let this happen to me? I had been home for two days with three kids and I was
going stir crazy. Though I tried, I didn’t handle the thwarted plans with
grace, needless to say I failed at this attempt. I went to bed last night with
the sequence of events on my mind, but I got up this morning with a new
perspective. I have gained a bit of wisdom from this situation, things I am
sure that have a purpose for my growth.
1)
Sometimes our plans will get changed, interrupted,
or overidden due to circumstances we can’t control It is so
important that we always remember,
God is still in control of our interrupted plans. I
seem to have memory lapses often it seems. As much as I have traveled this
road, you would think I would’ve learned this by now. I guess my learning curve
is a lot longer than others. I am determined to get it. We can make
our plans, but the LORD determines our steps. Proverbs 16:9
2)
What we do with the time is important.
Make the best use of it. I
realized that the time I spent being frustrated over the situation I could have
or should have been using it to be productive. I did get to spend some quality
time with my kids and begin on a new assignment that God placed on my heart. If
only I had used all the time to be productive instead of being frustrated…Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the
best use of the time. Colossians 4:5
3)
Attitude is everything. [How we approach the interrupted plans is
important.] I am not sure what lesson(s)
I was to learn in this or what things God was trying to keep me from, but I
know they had a purpose. My response should not have been one of anger or
disappointment, but of thankfulness. I had to realize thatthings could have been
far worse.
- I could have been stranded along side
the road with three kids when the car stopped.
- I could be in a situation with no means
to have it repaired.
- At least it happened during Spring Break
when I really didn’t have anywhere to be.
Be thankful in all
circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Perhaps
you have been in a similar situation or you may be facing one now where your
plans seem to be thwarted. Don’t fret. Use my experience to help you handle it (hopefully much better than i did).
We serve a God that not only knows everything, but is always looking out for
His children.
Be encouraged today!
_________________________________________________
"I know that you can
do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
Job 42:2
No comments:
Post a Comment