The past weekend didn’t turn out exactly the way I had planned. I was looking forward to celebrating the holiday with a little rest and relaxation. I had planned and prepared not to do a thing. I was in the middle of a good book. We had planned simple meals. I couldn’t wait!!
How are you when your plans don’t happen as you intended? I can have a variety of reactions, but most of them I would prefer not to share. Anyway, I knew that my laptop keyboard was frozen on Friday, but decided that any attention it needed could wait until this week. Which was true until I awakened on Saturday to a lifeless desktop! I am quite dependent on having access to the www. What was I going to do? I grabbed my laptop and spent the first hour trying everything I could think of, and the next five plus hours working with a tech person via telephone. Eventually, I am happy to say, my keyboard was restored and I was back in action.
I learned a couple of things that day:
1. Having something break may be a good time to check my attitudes. How am I doing at balancing my use of that item? Am I using it to waste time or avoid something else? Am I taking that blessing for granted, and forgetting to be thankful? Am I displaying the fruit of the Spirit when things don’t work or my day doesn’t go as planned?
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-25
2. When my day doesn’t go as planned and my attitude is less than desirable my Heavenly Father is there to listen to my cries and adjust my attitude. He knows my needs, forgives me, strengthens me, and fills me with hope. He doesn’t bless me with those things because of anything I do, but because of His mercy and grace given in and through Jesus. My sinful nature has been crucified with Christ Jesus. Thanks be to God!
It’s true, I didn’t spend the 4th exactly the way I had planned; however, as I look back on it . . . it was exactly the day the Lord had planned. It was a day where I was blessed to grow in my love for Him and my gratitude for His amazing grace!
Sometimes I remember to ask right away, and sometimes I forget altogether, but when the unexpected happens I attribute it to God’s intervention (“divine appointments”) and ask Him what He’s up to so I can play along.
Oh, the joy when we “play along.” I don’t always get there right away, too often my own agenda gets in the way. I am thankful that the Lord gets me there eventually. My dh often says that it may very well be the interruption in my day that was the Lord’s purpose for me all along. Thanks Anne, it’s great to hear from you.