2009, so far.
So far, 2009 has not been how I expected. I don’t mean that in a bad way. I actually think it’s a positive thing, but it’s been pretty challenging.
I tend to avoid change and I prefer when things are predictable. I always have a “plan” for how things should go. And right now I am out of my comfort zone because things are changing and unpredictable, and my plan is not working out. But I know God’s plan is.
Awhile ago, I heard a quote: “If you want to make God laugh, make a plan.” Now this isn’t biblical, but I think there is some truth to it. I don’t think God laughs at our plans but I know that His plans are usually completely different and always much better than ours.
It is appropriate that last week at church, the teaching was on stewardship.
steward: one who manages another’s properties or finances.
We are all stewards – managing things that are not really our own. Nothing we have is truly “ours” – our money, possessions, family, friends, jobs, talents and gifts. They are all owned by God, and we are just entrusted to them while we are here on Earth. It is an honor to have the important job of taking care of something that belongs to God! It’s made me realize that when I dwell on what I don’t have at the moment or if am unsatisfied with my current situation, I am being ungrateful for how much we have been given. I really think that message at church was preparing us for some of the things that would be happening in the following days.
I really have high hopes for this year. I told Funnel the other night that I feel like I’ve been having “growing pains”. That’s the best way I can describe it. I am struggling a lot, but I know there will be a lot of good from it. I already feel like I have grown so much in the past couple of months. I’m learning from my mistakes and being reminded of what is important. Right now, I have everything I need.
January 23rd, 2009 at 5:18 pm
“High hopes”…I’ve always like that phrase! I was blogging today too about some aspirations of mine. Growing pains are a pain, but yield so many good things. I know the Lord has some amazing things in store for you guys. love you -
January 24th, 2009 at 5:38 am
Jen,you always put things in perspective and make me realize how lucky I am and also how lucky I am to have a wonderful daughter like you. You are so very right on so many things. You should write a book…….MOM
January 24th, 2009 at 10:19 am
1. Yes, you should write a book. (But I guess technically you already have, with the love story one!) Then you should write another one.
2. I want Debbie’s blog address. I didn’t know she blogged!
3. I am trying to grasp the concept that my money isn’t mine, either, but that everything belongs to God. When I can get my mind wrapped around that, it makes it easier to give to the “beggar on the corner,” because the money in my purse is just as much his/hers as it is mine. Weird, huh?
4. I had a dream about you and Funnel last night! In my dream I wanted to try on your wedding dress, and I was way too big for it (you have such a trim figure), and worse still, I got some food sauce on it or something! I thought you would never forgive me! I’m pretty sure I was over at your guys’ place to learn photography from you. I forget what else was in the dream. Haha. Please forgive me for getting a stain on your wedding dress. Even in my dream I thought, “I know Jen doesn’t like the ‘Trash the Dress’ practice, because she wrote a blog post about it!”
hahahahahaha
5. I don’t think we will ever stop having growing pains. I was eating with my friend last week (he’s 31), and he was just joking around, saying, “Wow, you’re 22. What’s it like down there?” I thought for a bit. I answered, “You make a lot of mistakes. …But I guess that’s true of any age.” And he agreed. He said, “I like the mistakes though, because that’s how you learn life’s lessons.”
Let us embrace our growing pains! (Famous last words.)