How we respond to that change makes all the difference in the outcome. What happens when our well-thought out plan is no longer workable? Do we throw up our hands and give up? Do we lament and moan and weep over it? Do we begin working on Plan B? None of these is a 'wrong' answer as long as we don't get stuck in one too long. How important is it for us to grieve the loss of our first plan? It's important and necessary even to mourn for what isn't going to happen, or even the loss of what could be.
Rodger and I planned for me to be a 'stay-at-home mom.' He never liked coming home to an empty house when he was a kid. But I think that the stronger motivation was having one of us to be there for our children. We planned on a family (I remember his idea was maybe 2 or 3) and he wanted me to be focused on the needs of that family. He wanted me to primarily be there to meet the emotional and physical needs of that family. It sounds outdated to many, I'm sure, and to be certain, in the 80's and 90's not a popular idea. Financially, it wasn't easy, but we were dedicated to that commitment and so as our family grew I looked for ways to economize. I remember taking a survey once and one of the questions was: Do you have enough to eat (yes, yes we did.) The next question was: Do you have the kinds of food you want? (No, it wasn't always what I wanted, but we did have what we needed.)
Fast-forward about 3 decades and life has thrown us a few curves. Our plans didn't turn out just as we imagined. We have moved three times in the past ten years. We are living far from most of our children and grandchildren. I am happy to say most days I can deal with it. I can be contented with our lot in life. God is a faithful God. He has provided our needs, sometimes in mundane ways and sometimes in surprising ways! He provides encouragement through His word and through the unique ways He chooses to bless us. He promises to stand by us. He doesn't promise grand mansions or lots of beautiful things, in the worldly sense, but He does promise never to leave us. We can depend on Him to keep that promise.
Back to the changes: With our children nearly all grown and gone from home, I have gone back to work part time. God has provided a job I love (working as a library assistant,) a loving, supportive church family, a husband who loves me and has coffee waiting for me when I wake in the morning, and tea when I get home from work. Oh, and does the dishes when the kitchen gets out of hand!
Thanks be to the God of heaven, who does not change! I am thankful He is dependable and faithful!
Dwell on this thought and these words this week:
"Keep your life free from the love of money, and be content with what you have,
for He has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." Hebrews 13:5
Read that entirely in context for such love and encouragement comes through His word!
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