IT’S SUMMER!
Summer has officially arrived, and it’s one of my favorite times of the year. Not so much for the heat, but for the slower pace and fun activities that everyone seems to have. Plus we have so many enjoyable summer plans with our little ones and extended families.
My husband and I recently took a road trip for our summer vacation. My travel plans were made, and excitement filled the air. I packed all my summer clothes, and we talked about hiking, renting a vehicle to go off-road exploring, and many more outdoor activities. It was going to be a great vacation.
We packed up the car, got our two Yorkies in the car, and we were ready to hit the road! It was a beautiful day. The skies were blue, and it was a warm summer morning. We got to our destination and unpacked the car. The dogs were excited about arriving at a new place where they could smell the green grass and trees to their heart’s content.
The next morning I got up and went to the grocery store. Another beautiful day was planned. My husband got a few hours of sun on the patio as we listened to the creek below. The birds were singing, and so were we!
We planned everything except for one small detail. We never checked the weather for the week, and we were unexpectedly hit with unusual temperatures. We woke up the next six mornings to freezing cold weather. When I say freezing, I mean the temps were in the 30’s and 40’s. Not exactly the weather I was expecting or even planned for this summer vacation. It rained. It hailed. It snowed. It was windy, and I was unprepared. There was no hiking, no off-road exploring, and no shopping or walking outside. It was too cold for any of that.
I was miserable, and if that wasn’t enough, my husband got sick. I started to complain. I complained for half a day, and then I heard God whisper to me saying, “I knew this was going to happen.” I stopped and began to cry. Yes, God knew this was going to happen, but I had my plans, and they weren’t for cold weather! I wanted this perfect vacation, but it wasn’t going to take place.
What we did next was out of the ordinary, but so much fun. We got out puzzles and board games, and played pool, card games, and read books. We listened to the rain on the roof and saw the beauty that the snow formed on top of the mountains. We heard the creek rumble from the water rapidly flowing over the rocks. Yes, it was cold, but my husband and I saw our vacation through the eyes of the Lord. He prepared this beautiful time just for us. We got a lot of rest and then headed back home.
What I learned from our summer vacation is that our plans aren’t always what God desires for us. I’m learning to lean on Him and go with the flow. Go with God’s plans. He will direct our steps. He knows our needs, and I needed to refocus on Him and gain some rest.
Do you have summer vacation plans? My advice would be to bring all your plans and ideas along with you on your vacation, but know that God’s plans are not always your plans. Oh, and you may want to check the weather before you leave.
Proverbs 16:9
A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.
