We have all been there. We make plans, some of us down to the last detail, and then “something” happens.  Then we whine and complain about how our plans were ruined, our day is ruined, and so on. Were our plans really “ruined” or just not what we had planned? It happened to our family three days in a row over this Easter weekend.

Saturday we went shopping for new Easter shoes and clothes. Plus, we still hadn’t bought any food for Easter dinner. We were on our last store. We were so close to being able to go home, when “it” happened. I had asked Mark to wait outside for us since we had things in the cart we didn’t want him to see; his favorite candies and coffee.  Mark and Kathelyn went outside to wait as Matthew and I waited in line. I could see them through the front window of the store. They were standing there talking, watching people pass by.  That all changed by the time Matthew and I walked out.  I first saw Kathelyn, pale as a ghost. I saw her mouth moving in prayer. Then, I saw my husband. He was holding an elderly lady’s head as blood dripped down to her toes and onto the hot concrete. She had misjudged the curb sending her, the electric cart, and her groceries into the parking lot. Mark and others had put her and everything else upright before they noticed the head injury.

Matthew stayed beside Kathelyn to pray and I started asking questions while we waited on EMS to arrive. We gathered as much medical history from Mary as we could and then simply talked to her about her life. Mary is 83-years old and lives with her older sister, Marge. Mary was a career woman and never married or had children. She was an Army nurse and traveled the world while in the military. She proclaimed, “I am a tough old broad.”  Another lady and I bagged up Mary’s groceries in an attempt to keep them somewhat cold. A man was on the phone with 911, others were bringing napkins, gloves, paper towels, and trash bags for the bloody items. A mother and daughter whom had needed our help in the store, were now standing there praying alongside our children and providing Mark with hand sanitizer. The medics showed up and checked vitals and cognition. Mary refused to go to the hospital for stitches. It was hard to tell how big the gash was through her blood-matted, snow-white hair.

We assured Mary and the medics that we would get her home. There is no way we were going to let her drive. I drove Mary home as my husband and children followed. Mary told me how the universe had brought us to her in her time of need.  I assured her it was God. She further told me about the universe and its gifts and I kindly replied with His Word. We were not disrespectful to each other in our beliefs at all. She told me about her life and the things she had missed out on by choosing a career over family. She truly was, “a tough old broad”. She continued to call us angels and I continued to tell her we were right where God wanted us to be.  Proverbs 16: 9 A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.  

We called Mary later that evening to check on her. Word had gotten around the gated community that Mary had been hurt. Some neighbors invited her and Marge to dinner. Oh, was Mary in for a surprise. This wasn’t any old dinner, this was a full Jewish Seder. Mary retold the story the hosts had told her of the meaning behind each item of food. Mary shared many things from that dinner and then ended our conversation with this statement, “I believe you are right, God did send you.”

Easter Sunday we were at church for the first of three services. My husband and I had been dealing with some pain issues and really wanted to go home, relax, and then have a late Easter dinner. As we walked past the nursery, there was one little boy who was inconsolable. I held him for a few minutes trying to calm him down to no avail. As Mark approached, the little boy reached out his arms to Mark. He nestled his head into Mark’s shoulder and stopped crying.  As Mark continued to hold him, the boy began to smile and laugh. There were 15 little ones in that room and staff was outnumbered, so we stayed to help. About that same time, the Children’s Youth Pastor walked by looking worried. He said that we were going to run out of the candy-filled water bottles for the children.

Matthew and I quickly jumped in the car and headed to the Dollar Tree. We loaded that cart with bags of candy and water bottles until the cart was heaping full. I think Matthew enjoyed just shoving everything off a shelf into the cart. When we got back to the church, we all assembled them as quickly as possible.  I can still see our family sitting on the floor in our “Sunday best”, ripping open bags of candy and shoving it into bottles as fast as we could. We did not want one child to leave empty-handed. We eventually went home, but not even close to when we had planned.  Proverbs 16: 9 A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.  

Monday comes around and despite still being in pain, Mark headed to work.  At 9:15 AM, he texted me to tell me that he was headed to the job site where one of his crew was having severe chest pain and pain running down his left arm. Mark spent his entire morning at the hospital, picking up Dennis’ truck, getting Dennis’ brother to the hospital to be with him, and praying.  Mark had planned out his day. He knew what lock-outs he needed to check, what warranties he needed to get done, and other work plans.  Proverbs 16: 9 A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.  

Have you ever been delayed in leaving the house, only to come up on an accident that you might have been involved in had you left on time? I have read numerous stories of people who were NOT in the Twin Towers that tragic day because of things as minor as stopping to buy band-aids for a blister. No, God does not control our every move and thought. However, He created each of us on purpose for a purpose. No matter how many winding, gravel back roads you take, He will direct your steps to fulfill His purpose. The next time your plans get altered, look for the blessing in it.