So you make your plans......

Today, I had planned to do quite a bit of packing. The key part of that statement is "I had planned". Well you know what they say about the best laid plans. I work for a hospice as a call RN. That means after business hours are over, I take calls from patients and handle them either over the phone or with a visit. The phone rang this morning at 6:30 and the answering service told me one of our patients had passed away. I quickly got dressed, gathered my things and raced out the door. I was already worried about missing a doctor's appointment to re-check my ear infection. I was worried because I knew this patient's home was 40 minutes from mine, that I couldn't call the funeral home until I got there and that most funeral homes took on average of an hour to come. This also meant a 40 minute drive back home to the doctors office - it would be cutting it close. Rather selfish of me wouldn't you say. I mean this family just lost their wife and mother. As it turned out, time was indeed running out as I waited for the funeral home to arrive. It struck me how today this family woke up with one less member present and I was worried about missing an appointment. So, I sat down at the kitchen table with them and started working on the puzzle they were distracting themselves with. We talked about their loved one and other pleasantries and before long they had arrived. I gave hugs all around, made my exit and raced back towards home. My visit with the doctor was perhaps the quickest I have ever had. I was home and yelling for my husband when I heard a soft reply from upstairs. Upstairs? What was he doing up there at 10ish in the morning. Turns out his plans changed when he sat upright from the computer and felt some vertigo coming on. He had been planning on running to town for half a dozen errands, but was now in bed. He said he felt much better and then asked the fateful question that destroyed all hope of getting back on track, "Do you want to go with me?". I sighed. Before long, we were headed into town. I really wasn't comfortable with him driving 20 something miles to half a dozen places and potentially have the vertigo come back. As we went from place to place, we chatted and laughed about this and that. We bought him some work shoes, made a trip to Sam's for church supplies, and bought books at Lifeway. We stopped at Ruby Tuesday's for lunch and then proceeded to Lowe's for a few items needed to spruce up our house before it goes on the market. It was the most time we have spent together in weeks. Once home, I made the mistake of lying on the sofa and before long was deep in sleep. So deep that I didn't wake up until about 6:30 pm. As I struggled to fully wake myself, Steve decided to mow the lawn. Still the first box of the day had not been packed. I shook my head as I headed to the harp. I spent some time getting lost in new music before heading to the dining room to finish packing the china. I had no more started the third box when a knock came at the door. Some wonderful friends had been told of our news and come by to get all the details. We sat in the living room laughing ourselves silly for the next 2 hours as we talked about the happenings in each our lives. It was just delightful! As they pulled out of the driveway, I realized I was suppose to Skype my friend in China at 8:30. It was now 10:00. I took a chance and called anyway, hoping she hadn't moved on about her day. It was 10am there and we spent an hour catching up on their move back to the States and our move to Florida. As we signed off, my husband asked about dinner. Dinner at 11pm? "Cereal," I told him. Me, I had sweet tarts. My hopes for packing had dissolved. There is always tomorrow right?! This is just one day of many I have set my sights on lofty goals only to have them snatched from under me within the first hours of the day. Life is like that sometimes. The bible is quite clear that it is the Lord that orders our steps, not us. God's plan for our day is so much more important than anything we can design. It was more important for me to work a puzzle with a family in grief, ride to town with my husband and laugh like a little girl with friends we are leaving behind than to pack boxes. It is more important I let go of the reins and allow God to control my path. When I do this, He puts opportunities in front of me to do His work, to touch people, to create memories with those we love. When your best laid plans disappear before your eyes remember there may be something infinitely more important in front of you. In His service Mally