For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord,
plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord
determines his steps
Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s
purpose that prevails.
I recently attended my uncle’s memorial service. I was
close to him when I was a teenager and young adult. As the years went on, he
remarried a woman who turned out to be the love of his life. When he
remarried, his new family seem to literally swallow him up, and I felt some
resentment that he was taken away from “my” family. He and I were never that
close again.
As I sat there at his service and listened to person after
person from his “new” family speak from their hearts about what a positive role
model he was, what an influence he had on them, and how loved and supported
they felt by him, I had an epiphany. God’s plan for my uncle was to be there
for them, not us. My sister had the exact same epiphany during the service.
Somehow, acknowledging that this was God’s plan brought us some peace and
understanding. This was not our plan, but it was God’s plan and purpose for my
uncle.
He was a man of faith most of his life, but like many of
us, his faith grew stronger as he got older. He was an artist, and the picture
above is from one of his drawings of the church where he was baptized and grew
up in Cincinnati. He felt a special connection to the church and sometimes
returned there when he came in town to visit. Living out his faith and beliefs
were what his new family experienced when they were around him.
Isn’t this what we all hope will be said about us? Are we
living our faith, loving and supporting others on their faith journeys, even
when it isn’t our plan, but God’s plan?
Loving God, Thank You for revealing Your plan to us to help
us understand and give us the courage and strength to continue on our earthly
journeys. Amen.
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