Plans

Finishing up a quilt for an aunt at the Childrens’ Home in Choluteca, Honduras I was thinking about the fabric being incorporated into the quilt. The plans I had for the fabric (which I bought two years ago) had gone by the wayside long ago...yet here it was becoming part of a quilt which would comfort, warm and protect an adult who chooses to serve children who have been infected with or affected by HIV/AIDS.

While piecing the quilt-top, I could recall where each fabric was purchased and for whom the original quilt was intended. My initial plan was worthwhile and well-made but circumstances led to a different result. How much is that like my plans versus God’s plans? We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps (Proverbs 16.9). We plan for graduation…college… career…marriage… children…retirement – the list continues on and on. How many of my life plans resulted the way I planned them? Looking back, very few! Yet, looking at life’s events, I can see God’s hand – before and after I surrendered to Him – orchestrating my life. Taking the “fabrics” and arranging them according to His plan – how thankful I am!

Not only did He arrange my life, I can see where he took the heartaches, the sadness, the frustrations and pieced them into the quilt of my life. He didn’t leave holes or ugly places, He took the hard times and created a masterpiece of His design – flaws and all. How can we not love God? He takes the difficult, devastating times and transforms them into an integral part of His design for our lives – ultimately, an opportunity to demonstrate His power and relentless Love. Oh, what a Savior!!! ~ P