Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.

Proverbs‬ ‭19‬:‭21‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This Mother’s Day has me thinking. As a senior in high school, my plans were to marry my boyfriend, build a house on an acre or two, and have two kids, preferably a boy and a girl. I didn’t want to go to college, much to my parents’ chagrin, and I didn’t want to work, much to my young husband’s chagrin.

Being a wife and a mother was my heart’s desire, with singing and writing mixed in, (but not as a profession.)

Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Psalm‬ ‭37‬:‭4‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Looking at my life in retrospect, I have had my heart’s desires come true, but not as straightforward as I imagined.

First detour – I did have to work and wait a year before getting married. Getting married so young meant being broke most of the time, so instead of college tuition, my parents gave us enough money for a down payment on our first house. So not a home we built, but so much nicer than apartment living.

Life continues, I get my girl and my boy. I stay home for longer than most working moms with each birth which adds more financial stress. Our family expands to include three more babies over the following eight years..

A big contributing factor- my changing religious beliefs have been like a rollercoaster, up and down and around many a turn. But as with life, I am maturing and my faith is settling down. I wasn’t raised in a church so my faith looks like a patchwork quilt. A quilt I’ve had to remove, repair, and replace squares. A quilt unique and comforting.

I have all my heart’s desires now. I married my boyfriend and we will be married 46 years come next week, I have my two children plus three more blessings, we now have a home we’ve built, I don’t have to work and I get to write and sing as much as I want.

God is the delight of my heart and He fills my heart to overflow. I am so thankful to be a mother. I don’t need a special day to celebrate, for everyday I know my kids love me.

Not everyday looks like what you’ve planned in your mind. You may be facing a roadblock or a detour. Your car may breakdown and need repair, you may come across an accident or someone who needs a ride. Life is full of twists and turns, but keep going, trust your heart to the Lord.

Yahweh, you are my soul’s celebration. How could I ever forget the miracles of kindness you’ve done for me? You kissed my heart with forgiveness, in spite of all I’ve done. You’ve healed me inside and out from every disease. You’ve rescued me from hell and saved my life. You’ve crowned me with love and mercy. You satisfy my every desire with good things. You’ve supercharged my life so that I soar again like a flying eagle in the sky!

Psalms‬ ‭103‬:‭2‬-‭5‬ ‭TPT‬‬

Grace & Peace,

Sandy

PS: I know I mix metaphors all the time. I can’t help it. 😉

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