If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans!

Seriously, this was not the life I planned! I’m not much for setting life goals – I’ve never had a “5 year plan”, but I love adventure and experiences – and being sick tends to get in the way of that.

I wake up every morning thinking “today I’m gonna do something”. Most of the time it’s something small like pay bills or laundry, but sometimes I want to go big – take a drive to the beach, kayak down the river, go to Disneyland.

So I plan – rather, wishfully think about being able to do those things.

Oh man, it is so easy to get caught up in that wishful thinking. It’s so easy to dream about the things I can’t do. It’s so easy to let disappointment take over my heart and crush my spirit.

Today I sat by a toddler pool with my feet dangling in the water. It was 108 degrees and I couldn’t sit there for long, but still, it was a few minutes of doing something normal.

I sat there and visited with my kids, I sat and watched my grandson smile as we splashed each other, I sat and enjoyed life.

Plans change. Dreams change. That’s all there is to it.

How you react to those changes makes the difference in how well you enjoy life.

Chronic sickness was not part of my plan. But it’s here, and I have a choice – I can let it crush my spirit, or I can seek pleasure in the new plan.

Choose joy. It’s so worth it.

Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy–meditate on these things.

Philippians 4:4-8