"...she can laugh at the days to come." Proverbs 31:25. I have laughed at myself, and how the Lord changes my plans, more today than I have in a very long time. I was off to a typical week of organized chaos and an overloaded agenda, certain of my late night ability to pull it all together. My flight for Nashville was pulling out at 10:00 a.m. which would give us plenty of time to stop by and vote on the way to the airport. Once on the place I would settle in, greet those sitting next to me and then watch my DVD Bible study I had remembered to pack. All seemed perfect...in my head. Now, insert reality...
I finally made it to bed at the wee morning hour of 2:00 a.m., leaving my "list of things to do before I leave" quite unfinished. I did, however, manage to finally reserve myself a rental car...that too of course was not without a few hiccups. I was unable to use the credit card that I wanted to use because it was in Steve's name and not mine, therefore Steve would have to be present. But, he wasn't going to be there. Ahhh...I'll transfer money on to my debit card and reserve it that way. Problem number one solved...for the moment. Now, to pack. Not so fast...exhaustion won that battle and I went to bed with an optimistic view of the morning. Oh, wait...it WAS morning!! I set my alarm for 5:30 and passed out.
Once I hit the floor it was time to make the coffee, throw the bacon in the microwave, fold clothes in dryer, transfer clothes from washer into dryer (yes, clothes for my trip!!), pack my carry on, suitcase, tell Drew goodbye and send him off to school and get ready to leave. As I'm literally throwing things into my suitcase, I begin to think of how cold it might be in Nashville...in November...you think? Duh?! Time to look for my heavy coat, scarf and gloves. Mission accomplished and out the door we went...three other kids still in bed. Did I mention we're homeschooling them now?! Oh well, that's a blog in and of itself...for later!
I'm feeling pretty good about the whole run around, UNTIL...we pull into the church where I was to cast my vote. Really? THAT many people in Vail are all there to vote at the same time?!?! At least a forty-five minute wait. I look at Steve (those of you who know him know exactly what look was on his face;) and ask him if he thinks I should walk to the front of the line and kindly explain that I must be at the airport within the hour? We decided that I just didn't have time to make it happen. Fail number one of my 'self-arranged' agenda for the day. I beg for Steve's forgiveness...after all, I've NEVER missed an opportunity to vote in a presidential election since I was old enough to vote...what kind of person am I to even consider such a thing?! He graciously forgave me (this is all much drama added...he was really fine;) and we headed on to the airport.
I arrived just in time and found my seat on the plane...way in the back of the plane. Attempted to begin conversations with those around me, but neither person could speak English very well...not that I can either...so I decided to pull out my laptop and start my DVD Bible study..."A Women's Heart, God's Dwelling Place". Plugged in my headphones, positioned my Dt. Coke (they didn't have Mt. Dew, but I'm flexible;) and was ready to hear from the Lord. What's this?! My headphones don't work?! "Excuse me, O so kind, flight attendant, do you happen to have any headphones or ear buds? No ma'am, I'm sorry". Oh well, I'll read on this flight and grab some at the Dallas airport and watch my DVD on the next flight. Found some...cost $20...thanks, but NO thanks. Fail number two of my 'self-arranged' agenda for the day.
As I sat on my next flight, thinking back over my recent event history, I began to smile, then chuckle, then full on laughter broke out. I'm most certain the people around me wondered what in the world I was drinking! Oh, and I forgot to mention that at the Dallas airport I used my debit card to purchase a 20 oz diet dew...NEVER found a price. It could've cost me $5.00 and I wouldn't have known it...and probably wouldn't have cared by this point! The above Proverb kept coming to my mind, "...she can laugh at the days to come.". I began to wonder what would be the next thing to 'not go my way' and I thought, "of course, the rental car!". I started laughing again!! "What if they try to charge a large deposit for the rental? I only transferred enough money to cover the cost of the rental." Believing that the Lord would get me where I needed to be one way or another, I walked to the rental car window and walked away with no hassle...THANK YOU, LORD!!
I then met up with two ladies that I had never met before, except over a conference call a few weeks ago. We were scheduled to ride together because we were all headed to the same training. As we left the Nashville airport, in the dark, in the rain, in a car I've never driven before, I began looking at the directions to the hotel. Long story short, several wrong exits, turns in the wrong direction, waiting in rush hour traffic (did I mention we were in Nashville, in the dark, in the rain and in a car I've never driven before?) three or four phone calls to some other ladies that were waiting on us and we arrived safely at our destination. Again, THANK YOU, LORD and then laughter beyond laughter! The whole while I'm encouraging these sweet ladies, that have been thrown into my chaos alongside me, that "the greatest ability is flexibility" and of course, to "choose joy"!! Yes, I really did!! And they so sweetly trusted in this loopy southerner turned Arizonan. Actually, we were trusting in the One who moved the loopy southerner to Arizona...and He was faithful, as always!
All of these situations were unimportant in the grand scheme of things, but when all heaped on top of one another, when in a big hurry and limited resources available, they seem quite large! The Lord began to show me that even though most things in our life really are much smaller than we make them out to be, He cares for the very smallest, because He cares for us! He gives us His power, His courage, His resolve to handle no matter what comes our way. And to handle it with a 'joy that produces laughter', ALL for His glory and honor! Now, let's go forth and be women that are, "...clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come."
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