WHEN THINGS DON'T GO ACCORDING TO PLAN

WHEN THINGS DON’T GO ACCORDING TO PLAN

As I sit here today on this Christmas day I can't help but think about how incredibly blessed I am. No, I don't have money galore coming out of my ears or even close to that. I can't do everything I want when I want to do it. Yes, I have struggles and trials to deal with. I've dealt with things my family and friends don't even know. But, even with all that I am still so incredibly blessed and thankful for the life I have.

We got up this morning to head down to see my Momma and sister Jennifer for Christmas. We were going down for lunch and I already had the mac&cheese and broccoli casserole ready to go. However, as happens sometimes things didn't go according to plan. My car decided to pitch a hissy fit and not crank because it's tired of the cold weather Georgia has been having the past several days. So, after hours of my hubby trying to get it to charge on the battery charger and it not working we had to make the call that it just was not happening today.

Now, I could have just gotten all upset thinking that my Christmas day is ruined because things didn't go as planned. I could have sat around here and sulked the rest of today like it was so easy to do. But I chose differently.

Instead, when I called my sister to tell her we were not going to make it today I said jokingly, “So, I’m having homemade mac&cheese and broccoli casserole for lunch what are you having?” lol

It is so easy sometimes when things don't go according to plan to become discouraged and say, "What's the point? Everything always goes wrong every time I try".

I'm reminded of another time things didn't go according to plan. When Joseph along with a heavily pregnant Mary came to Bethlehem and there were no rooms in the inn for them to stay. The only place that was available to them to sleep was a stable with the animals. If you've ever been in a stable and around animals then you know there are going to be some smells and not very pleasant ones. To make things even more interesting the baby decided that while they were in the stable that it was time to make his appearance. So, there in the presence of the animals, Mary gave birth to baby Jesus. The only place she had to lay this precious baby to sleep was in a manger that they used to feed the animals. They had straw to cushion it so that it was soft for him.

Now, talk about things not going according to plan. Being a mom and experiencing childbirth four times myself, I can tell you that is not a setting I would have wanted my child to be born and especially as a new mom.

However, as so often happens just because it didn't go according to our plans doesn't mean it wasn't in God's plans. God knew exactly where, when, and how Jesus would be born. He planned it down to the last detail.

Mary and Joseph didn't falter when the time came. They experienced the birth of Jesus in that humble setting and I know Mary loved on that precious baby.

Sometimes when things seem to have all gone wrong or it seems like that’s all that happens there is a bigger picture that we don’t see unfolding. It's how we handle those times and situations that build our character. We can allow ourselves to become depressed, sulk and have the attitude of nobody likes me everybody hates me I think I'll go eat worms. Like the children's rhyme says, we can look for the positives in the situation and our lives.

Remember what we focus on expands. So, if all we focus on is the negative things that happen in our lives that is all we are going to see. But, if we focus on the positive things happening in our lives, even if it is so small you almost don't notice them, then before too long, we start recognizing more and more positives in our lives.

So, today I am of the mind that and have told Chandler several times that for whatever reason we were not supposed to go today. We may never know why but for whatever reason the Lord was stopping us from going today. I will take today to relax and remember playing with most of my grandbabies yesterday and the great time we had, but today I will chill and enjoy the rest of the day.

My challenge to each of you regardless of what's going on around you and what you are dealing with in your life each morning you wake up and look for something positive in your life that you are grateful for. To start it can be one thing and the next day looking for two things, then the next day three things, etc… Before you know it you will be able to see more positive than negative. Your circumstances may not have changed but your attitude towards them will have because you have shifted your focus.

Merry Christmas to each of you from my family to yours! Until next time God bless!

Scriptures that help me:

Romans 8:28

 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

Isaiah 55:8-9

8 For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are My ways your ways says, the Lord.

9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways high than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.