My Plan vs God's Plan

My life had not panned out as I planned. My plans were huge and majestic. I would annihilate life. Grab life’s throat and squeeze. Bully it into submission. That was then.  That was when I was a younger. That was a time before Jesus stopped me cold and asked, “What are you going to do about it?” IT was my family... more specifically my son. He had been cared for by strangers for the first 30 months of his life and I didn’t like how he was turning out. We, my wife and I, obeyed. She worked. I came home.

Soon, all three kids were back home. It was then I became acquainted with sacrifice for the first time in my life. Real sacrifice. I got to intimately know patience. As I climbed the learning curve, I learned to do activities they enjoyed. Life was better when we visited the library. Life was better when we played at public parks. I pushed swings for hours. I went down slides that were too small. Had picnic after picnic. They talked and squirmed less when we saw a movie they liked. I read the same books over and over and over.    

Those years change me. They changed my values. Shuffled my priorities. The time I spent with them led me to dismiss my plans, my ambition, and my life as foolish. I let go of life's throat. Their interests became my interests. Their success became my success. Their bliss was my bliss. Their dream was mine also. The process of dying daily is slow. Methodical. One has to be resolute. That process pursued me with the same fervor I once pursued mammon.  I finally surrendered.  In return, God revealed my purpose. 

I have focused on my family for the last ten years. To those who ask what I do, I respond, "I manage retirement accounts." The reality is I manage my children's lives. I invest in them. It's difficult. Challenging. Worthy. My family is my career. My children are my 401k.  

The return on my investment has been phenomenal. Our children know Jesus Christ as their Saviour. Our relationship is strong... they trust me and I trust them. They know who they are and who they are not. They are confident. Respectful. Intelligent. Kind and generous. They are learning to lead an examined life. They know God has big plans... majestic plans for them.  

I'm thankful God grabbed my throat and squeezed. I am glad He annihilated my ambition, my life, and my desires to make room for His bigger and better plan. I'm thankful He did so before I destroyed my family. I'm thankful God explained He didn't bless me with a wife and children so I could ignore them while I chased mammon.  My family is my legacy. I will be successful if my grandchildren know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour.

Have a good and godly day.