Thursday, September 1, 2011

Change of Plans

"If Plan A fails, remember you have 25 letters left."
I don't remember when I first read this; however, I've repeated it several times lately. Five children and one husband have taken this former teacher from a highly organized, schedule stickler to someone who has learned to adapt to changes, even when I don't like them.
I now have a front row seat to the alteration taking place in my oldest child, Monique. Remember Monique? She's the one who got married February 5, 2011. She picked that date because her chosen venue was already booked in the spring and she didn't want to wait until the summer. Not only did she elect to get married in the winter, but she planned an outdoor wedding. And we had the nerve to be surprised when the Blizzard of 2011 moved the ceremony indoors!
This was not the only amendment to her careful plans. First, Monique and Frank decided to honeymoon in the mountains of Tennessee. That was cancelled due to a probable snow storm. Plan B was a trip to Charleston, South Carolina, which was also cancelled due to extreme weather conditions. The newly married couple spent their first few days as man and wife at the bay house of Frank's family. Now, Monique says it was what they should have planned all along.
Monique still has a little trouble yielding control, especially when scheduling vacations. She is in the midst of planning a little trip to New York. Last week I got the following text: "I'm scared to go to New York."
"Why?" I texted back.
"Because of the earthquake. Would you be scared?"
"No. It happened and it's over."
"But it could happen again." "
"You are covered by prayer every day and bound to God's will. You are protected."
"True. Forgot about that."
The next day brought Hurricane Irene, more concerns, more messages, and a conclusion to continue the scheduling of the trip, adjusting plans if necessary. Although these issues are important to Monique, she would be the first to admit they are very slight breezes in comparison to the winds of change others have had to face.
My thoughts go to Mary, a young virgin who was engaged to be married to Joseph. Her life became subject to change when the angel informed her of God's plans for her to give birth to Jesus. She shelved her plans, yielded to God's, and her cousin Elizabeth said of her, "You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what He said." Luke 1:45
People's plans change constantly. Granted, none as dramatically as that of Mary, yet her example of submission to God's will encourages my own.
Perhaps you have found yourself like me, somewhere between Mary and Monique. And like me, your plans may have been altered many times, due to the direct intervention of God, a sickness or death, the wrong decision of another, the economy, stock market, or yes, even the weather.
May we all receive comfort from knowing that even if Plans A-Z fail, God is not restricted by the alphabet. He will continue to work out His will for our lives as long as we turn to Him for direction. "You can make many plans, but the Lord's purpose will prevail." Proverbs 19:21
Ronny may be reached at rmichel@rtconline.com

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