Its funny how we so often work so hard to arrange for our own happiness. And funny how often life happens, and disrupts our "best laid plans of man."
I had planned out my Saturday perfectly- Ansley & Kelsey both had responsibilities all day, so I planned to get up around 9:30am, eat breakfast, then join Lisa in some fun yardwork with flower planting, opening our flower garden fountain, etc. After lunch, I planned to take a good, long solo motorcycle ride, be back for dinner, then settle down to make my final prep for Sunday morning kid's church.
That was my plan- and it didn't take long before it was disrupted. Kelsey had been run off the road in her car by a "hit & run" truck a couple of days before, and along with car body damage, she had blown a tire. After getting a spare on it, yesterday she used Lisa's car to visit a friend, and promptly took a nail puncture in one of those tires! So my Saturday afternoon would be spent at a tire store, replacing two tires for two cars. Not what I had planned...
I was down in the dumps, thinking a perfect day was lost. My plans were ruined. Fortunately, God got my attention. He reminded me that my attempts to arrange for my own happiness was not the point. My life was in His hands, and He would provide for all my needs.
As it turns out, the tires were both fixed quickly and without a huge cost, as they were still under warranty on both cars. I ended up returning home by 5pm, and Lisa said, "Hey, its been a trying day. Go take a ride." So I took off, and had a wonderful, beautiful, relaxing ride as the sun slowly began to set. I rode to Good Hope and back, just letting the road and wind and scenery untangle my mind.
On a back road, by a postcard perfect scene overlooking a sun setting behind a farm on rolling hills, I looked up, and saw a break in the gathering clouds. The hole in the cloud took the shape of a heart, and God spoke into mine- "Just a little reminder of My love for you." I replied, "Thank you Father, I love you too." He had reminded me not only of His love, but also that life's purpose and pleasures were in His hands. I so easily complain about what I don't have, or what doesn't go according to my plans, then I realize I have been blessed with so very much, and I would not have had my life turn out any other way. I among men, am most blessed, more than I deserve.