As for God His Way is Perfect

She had written on my Facebook Wall, "It's Thursday...is the plan still haywire?"

On Monday, after a time management seminar the week before, and excited about a new planner, I had launched into the week with such hope. But this week at least, God had other plans.

Sue delights in teasing me about the never ending quest I'm on to fit my life into neat boxes; whether it is my infamous Excel spreadsheet with the colour coded blocks of time, or a new planner.

She is organized to the max. I think she must have married our son Peter to balance out the gene pool in our families.

On Friday, though, there was another message from Sue on Facebook:

"Think back for a moment to 11 years ago, October 20th 1997. You walked into a room to find your daughter-in-law in a mess of tears. (to put it lightly!!) Remember? I had just discovered that my "plan" had gone haywire! REALLY haywire!! Plans are great but sometimes its better when they fall apart. Katherine is evidence of that! I am grateful everyday that God will sometimes override our plans."

I remember all right! Peter and Sue had moved in with us to save for down-payment on a house. One October evening, we heard the sound of loud sobbing from their room, and when we ran to see what was wrong, we found a very strange scene.

Sue was sitting in the middle of the bed in their room wailing, while being comforted by Peter, who looked like he was illuminated from the inside with joy. It took a few seconds to realize that this was the announcement that a grandchild was on the way; I'd never imagined it happening quite that way.

"I'll be responsible for another person; I'll be a terrible mother; I'm too strict; I'm too selfish!" she cried, while worrying about where they would live.

Sue was full of mixed emotions. All of her goals had taken a detour. She felt overwhelmed and inadequately prepared for motherhood.

It didn't take long for the calculations to begin. Evidently this little one would be born between June 29th an July 7th. Sue and Peter had tickets to Riverdance on July 19th and I think that Sue wanted to know that at least one of her plans was going to pan out.

On July 1st 1998, Katherine Elizabeth was born. I can't imagine our world without her.

Jay and Brenda used the Riverdance tickets.

Since then, Katherine has been blessed with some siblings: Stephen, Joshua and Emily...and Sue is a most amazing mother.

I'm with Sue. Our plans should be made of gossamer, for God's are always better.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (New International Version)
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

Comments

Joyful Fox said…
Thanks Belinda,

All gentle reminders that our time is His anyways.

He is the ultimate planner.

Somehow I find myself changing roles though.
1:37 PM
Susan said…
Loved this post! And love that litte change of plans named Katherine. :o)

It was Emily for us who was our biggest "change of plans". We call her "the best mistake we ever made"! :o)
4:08 PM
Violet N. said…
What a lovely story - and a great reminder not to be too married to the daytimer!
12:30 AM
Angcat said…
Gossamer plans....
Mmmm, that's delicious.
What a sweet post, with a rich message.
:-)
8:18 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Movies

A few nights ago, I touched on our conversation over dinner at cell group--a continuation of one we'd started the week before about our favourite movies. Sam had led an icebreaker where we had shared our favourites and it was surprising, funny and revealing to hear what they were. Here are some of them: Ron-- Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure Richard-- The Godfather Brenda-- Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Susan-- The Miracle Worker and Chariots of Fire Paul's were A Christmas Carol and Groundhog Day , and mine were: The Colour Purple and What About Bob All week though, I kept thinking--what was it about those particular movies that spoke to people--and that's what we discussed over dinner on Tuesday. It was as much fun finding out why people loved them as finding out what they were. We laughed loudly as Ron recounted some of the scenes in Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure as they traveled back in time and collected historical figures for their history a
Read more

Ere Zij God--Glory to God in the Highest! A Dutch Carol

Image
By Belinda This beautiful Dutch carol was shared today by a friend of Dutch ancestry, on Facebook. I had never heard it before but absolutely loved it. It moved me deeply, especially at the end after the crowd leaves the church and then breaks into spontaneous singing again around a brazier, with the sound of chiming church bells in the background. Listen to it with headphones or a good speaker to get the full effect of the harmonies. And happy first Sunday in Advent!
Read more

Samson Beaver and his Family

Image
I first posted this in 2009, a little show and tell about one of my favourite photographs. Back then it hung on a wall, but now it's in my bathroom where I see it every morning! I'd forgotten the history behind the story, researched when I first posted this and thought that current readers might enjoy it--a story from a time when this land was still being discovered, not so very long ago. This photograph was taken by Mary Schaffer; artist, photographer, writer and naturalist, in 1907. It is of a Stoney Indian named Samson Beaver, with his wife Leah and daughter, Frances Louise. I bought the photo on a postcard, on a trip to British Columbia and it hangs framed, on the wall I face when sitting at my laptop. I love it. Don't you just feel as if you could gather Frances Louise up in your arms and cuddle her? I get a deep sense of peace and happiness when I look at this family, sitting in the grass of a long ago fall. They are dressed in their best, beautiful c
Read more