The other day, I had a plan. Do you have those days? I had a list of things I was going to accomplish, with 4 loads of laundry at the top of the list. So, unlike most days, I started early and got to work. I was feeling so accomplished. One load of laundry done, porch cleaned, clothesline re positioned, clothes hung, next load in the washer. It was great. The windows were open, the birds were singing, it wasn’t hot yet and I was busy in my break time sorting long-gone relatives in one of my family trees. Great morning!
That was a grand 5 minutes!
Then it started to rain. First a sprinkle – I thought, Hmmm this might just pass over quickly. Then, the downpour! So much for laundry. The wind was out of my sails. I was frustrated and aggrevated and pouting around. I seriously just moved my “in the garage clothesline” to outside. Really? I mean, really?? Four loads of laundry sorted in the garage floor, just about out of clothes to wear . . . Really??
It was just water, after all, so I left the jeans (couldn’t have been something easy to dry like sheets, nope it was jeans) on the line and tried to just focus on what I could do. It was distracting and frustrating, but not much can be done except complaining to God about the timing of the rain. That was happening, make no mistake.
About an hour later, the sky cleared up, the sun came out, and I went right along washing and hanging clothes. I figured if the jeans didn’t dry, maybe my sister would let me dry them at her place. But, they did dry. Everything dried. All four loads of clothes with no problem.
And I realized something. . . something spiritual. . . something new
Just because the sky gets dark and the rain starts doesn’t mean it’s going to be a 3 day storm. It may just be a temporary shower, inconvenient, but not harmful. Sometimes when my plan is wrecked and the world seems to be “against” me at that moment – it will be short and simply inconvenient. Sometimes, a bit of rain is just an extra rinse, an opportunity to do something other than what I had planned at that moment.
I am sorry, Lord, for complaining when Your plan unsettles my own. I know Yours is the better plan. Help me to remember that when I am working hard to have total control over my own life – which I have surrendered to You.
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