Unhatched Eggs

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11 ESV

I'm sure you've heard the saying never put all your eggs in one basket. That can be interpreted for many things but lately I've been thinking of it in the form of don't get caught up in the plan you have for your life. 

I'm one of those control people. I like to be in control. I want to plan what will happen and stick to the plan. But that doesn't always work. I can't see all the ways my plan could go wrong or get messed up. All I can see is what is going on today. 

The last few years God has really been working on me not getting caught up in the plan. Letting go of having to plan everything out and not getting upset when plans have had to change. It hasn't been easy. I've had to relax and just focus on the moment. Some days I think I'm doing pretty good and then I encounter a change and I have to readjust my attitude. 

This year I adopted the word change as my word for the year. Why?  Because I knew it would be better to embrace what I knew to be a year full of change rather than struggle against all the changes I knew would be coming. It hasn't been easy. I keep trying to figure out how all the pieces will fit and they don't. 

My most recent visual aid that God used was a bluebird nest. I watched as the momma bluebird built a nest and then proceeded to lay five eggs. The eggs weren't there all at one time. One day there was two and a day or so later there was five. So I knew that they wouldn't likely all hatch together. But I checked each day and finally one hatched. Each day I have checked for the other four and each day they sit there as this one baby gets feathers and grows bigger. I kept hoping the others would hatch but I've finally decided that for whatever reason the other four eggs aren't going to hatch. It's been too long. It was disappointing. I expected five baby bluebirds. Not one. 

Isn't that just like us. We expect our plan to work like clockwork and be all that we want it to be. And then God - He works His plan. And often it doesn't look like what I want or happen in the time I want. So I just have to sit back and watch and wait and trust. That's the hard part. You see trust is never easy. But man is God worthy of our trust. He is a keeper of promises and fulfills all of our expectations. No person is capable of that. No one else can take our plan and twist it all around and make something more amazing than we ever could imagine. Only God. 

So as I wait for that one bluebird to leave home I know the other eggs were there for me. To remind me to trust God's plan. Because His plan is the best one. 

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9 ESV

That Mother Thing

“Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.” Proverbs 23:22 ESV

If you are a mom, had a mom, want to be a mom or just know a mom then you know mothering is hard. Someone on Facebook asked what the things are we fear most as moms. A large number said losing their child or somehow losing what we think they should be or do. It all came back to fear. 

I think the biggest fear is that somehow the choices I made or am making will do more harm than good to my kids. In my finite, superficial mind it's really more about me than them. And the reality is, it's not about me at all. I didn't really make them and I can't ultimately break them. Yes as moms we can do great good and even some really bad things to our kids. But God is the one who holds it in is hands. The miracle of birth and life lay solely on Him. 

I think if I just point them to Him then no matter how good or how bad I do at this mother thing then He can draw them to Himself and work out what is best but I do need to diligently show them God. 

It's almost Mother's Day and it's making me think about where I learned to mother. My mom has been a great example of mothering. She was a marine wife who followed my dad where the military took him. Often to places where she didn't know anyone and was left to raise her babies without a whole lot of support. She lost her parents too early and lost a child as well. Yet she persevered. 

Somehow we all four graduated high school and have families of our own with jobs to support ourselves. She did a lot of praying and spent a lot of time with God. 

I've been blessed the last two years to live with my parents again. I've seen the toll that aging takes and the love that 56 years of marriage holds together. I've seen how I reflect different parts of my parents as I mother my children. 

In just a short time my kids will graduate high school and college and I will get married again and move to a new place leaving my parents home alone. I'm torn about that because I've been able to help them do things that they love to do and eased some of the work. I know they don't really need me but sharing the load always makes it easier. 

As I hear all the comments about mothers and the emotions that run rampant on Mother's Day, the hurts and bitterness and loss, I'm reminded again of how God is the great provider. He is the one who gives life and uses it for His will and His glory. 

I pray that as you celebrate Mother's Day you will remember those who can't or don't celebrate but grieve on Mother's Day. Take the time to pray for those who won't be as happy about celebrating. Reach out to those who just need a touch. 

That mothering thing is hard and it never gets easier. We are but a vessel to be used and some times the vessel gets cracked and broken. But good comes through the cracks when the Holy Spirit fills all the parts. 

“Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life.” Proverbs 16:31 ESV