~~ Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV84)~~ “...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. ...”
by Carley Cooper
OK, so here is the plan for my life. Please, pay close attention to this people because we are going to hit the ground running. Nothing or no one is going to get in my way. First, I am getting married to a wonderful man. He will be tall, dark and super sexy. He will have a wonderful sense of humor, and a great job earning a very good salary. He will be my best friend and a fantastic lover. He will have all his own teeth and hair; and worship my body and the ground I walk on. We will spend our first few years traveling the world together. Then we will have 4 kids; and they will be 2 boys and 2 girls, since every girl should have a sister as a BFF and every boy should have a brother for the same. Since, pets are one of childhood’s greatest pleasures; our family will be complete with the addition of a dog, a hamster, and a couple of parakeets. Every child should have a dog. Finally, the last step is a great career that will be the ultimate in fulfillment. It will be so enjoyable that it will not even feel like work. Once these things are all done... and in that order, then we will be able to live a very healthy no-one-ever-gets-sick, happily ever after life. Sounds like an awesome plan, if I do say so myself! Does any of it ring a bell with you? Sound even a little bit familiar?
Well, here we are many years later (but wait...not too many. I’m not that old. LOL) and it seems that somewhere along the line when I turned my head for a minute my plan ran into a glitch. Somewhere in the building of my life, the blue prints seem to have been misplaced and forgotten. Things have not turned out like I had hoped. Not even close! So what really happened? Well, it took me years longer than I planned to meet someone and get married. Only for it to be short lived, and ended up with a divorce hearing on my 30th birthday. That certainly was not my idea or my choice, but I had to go along with it... both the divorce and the hearing date. The babies did not have the opportunity to be born due to medical issues, failed attempts, and ever-off timing.
Oh, and that wonderful career? Well, that was a big stumbling block because I had no idea whatsoever what I wanted to do. I did not go to university because no one told me that you could go before having every detail of your life planned out in advance. I seriously thought I was the only one, and I was embarrassed by that so I told no one. I turned down two acceptance letters to college because of this. I was under the impression that if you were to going to school, you knew from day one why you were going and what the course plan was. No one told me that you could go and figure out the details later. Then, as time went on I always felt that I was too old, and it was too expensive. Instead I chose a small community college that provided me with a diploma for skills that were already out of date when I completed the program.
Another unexpected and unplanned spark that burned all my life plans turned out to be health issues, which took over my life with a life of its own. Then, the final fuel to the fire was that I ended up in some abusive relationships. That certainly was not in my original plan either.
So where does my life sit today? Well, I have survived a long string of traumas. They are too much to go into here. I intend on writing a book about it. Wow! Me, writing a book?! I am told all the time that I have some natural talent for writing. I take it as a wonderful compliment, but who would have ever thought?! English-Lit was my worst subject in high school. I have also been invited, recently, to be a guest speaker next year at a women’s retreat. Me, a guest speaker?! I am social-phobic, yet I am excited about this! Hmmmm... isn’t that a contradiction?! Anyway, I am being told that it is time for me to start sharing my story to inspire others. Again, me an inspiration?! If it wasn’t for the fact that these things are such a surprise to me, I would laugh at them!
I have been told quite a few times in recent weeks that I have affected people, in a positive way. Along the route that my life has actually taken, I picked up a lot of knowledge and experience that can help people improve their lives by healthy eating. I have another, smaller book, project that I am working on about healthy living. It’s more of a booklet or a paper actually. However, I have several people that are already interested in reading it, including a couple of people who work at the local hospital in the mental health department where they hope to share it with patients. They are amazed at how I have improved my life and health through the discoveries that I have made by finding and changing patterns, and changing my diet. There have been a few people who have told me that they are also noticing patterns now and changing things that are helping them improve their health and life, because of what I have told them about myself.
I have another friend who is chasing a dream of opening a Christian Cafe / Karaoke Bar here in Barrie, Ontario because of encouragement that I gave her to never give up. I never would have thought, on my own, to even consider that I could have such an impact on other people. I feel such humility, and so very blessed by this.
I have no idea what the future holds for me. Will I ever be a wife? A mother? A career woman? An entrepreneur? Only time will tell. I never would have thought, or would have wanted; to plan such things as being a writer, or a guest speaker, or someone to provide health advice to others. But these things are on my plate right now as very real possibilities.
So many times in life we say things like “If only we had more money, we could buy that item we need so much”, and then we pray for it. We never once stop to consider asking God what His plans are for our lives. Whether we realize it or not, God is the one in control of our lives. We either go along with His plan letting the Holy Spirit lead the way to happiness, and a future brighter than anything we could have ever come up with; or we try our own path and run into trials, troubles and problems. Granted I know, and agree with, the thoughts that you are probably having right now that this can be easier said than done. It is in our nature to want o be in control of our own lives. Sometimes, I actually look up to God and ask Him “God, surely You can’t be serious about this? So, I guess You think this is funny don’t you?!” The truth is that my original plan would have led me to be a child of the world, and not of God. My original plan did not include Jesus as a member of my family, let alone to take His rightful position as Head of my family! My happiness would have been completely dependent on the world falling into place in a way that I needed it to. Thinking about that now, really is funny! How often does that happen? My original plan was completely self-focused. It did not include helping others in any way. If I had followed my own plan, I would not have an impact on other people; and more importantly, I would not have a relationship with Jesus right now. Neither, true happiness or my salvation would be possible. It seems that old saying is true, “if you wanna make God laugh, just tell Him your plans”.
~~ Dear God ~~ Thank You, that long before I was ever born, You had my life planned out for me. Thank You for not letting me follow my own plan. I am so very blessed to have gone through the trials and traumas that I have because they have brought me into a relationship with Jesus; and as such I will get to spend eternity with Him. My future has never looked brighter. Please continue to use me to bless others; and to let the Holy Spirit lead me, and mould my life. I am anxiously waiting to see what wonderful blessings you have in store for me next. In Jesus name, AMEN.
