Life is What Happens When You Have Other Plans

Posted by Bethany | 0 comments

When life interferes with my plans, my first tendency is to throw a temper tantrum; however, since I’m not two years old, that’s not considered acceptable. Of course, I didn’t consider it acceptable when my two year olds threw temper tantrums either. Anyway, when life hands you lemons, do you make lemonade, or do you throw the lemons on the ground and stomp all over them?

Life has happened quite a bit at my house and in my homeschool recently, and I’ve been guilty of stomping on the lemons (a true confession for those of you who read my blog). The other day, my friend Wendy sent me this very convicting quote:

“Resentment is like drinking poison and hoping it will kill your enemies [or even your loved ones]” (Nelson Mandela).

Yikes! It’s time to start making lemonade. I decided to look for the spiritual lesson in all of this. I know I’m not the only one guilty of harboring resentment and stomping on lemons, so read on and let go of that resentment.

What do I miss when I’m holding tightly to my schedule in one hand and my resentment in the other? I miss cuddling with a little girl who will soon be too big to sit on my lap. I miss the opportunity to involve my husband in our children’s education. I miss the fun of additional family meals. I miss the blessings of relaxing with infrequent houseguests. I miss the blessings of serving my incapacitated mother. It sure looks like I miss out on many of God’s blessings!

If resentment is poison, the Enemy sure does a good job of disguising it. To continue our drink analogy, resentment can masquerade as a Starbucks peppermint latte. It smells good. It looks good. It tastes great. But what happens if I drink caffeine after 3:00 P.M., or drink all those calories when I’m supposed to be restricting them? Yep, I regret drinking that delicious peppermint latte. It’s the same way with resentment: it tastes good going down, but I’m the one who regrets drinking it. What would happen if, instead of drinking the bitter cup of resentment, I drank the living water from God’s well of life? Let’s look at John 4 to review the benefits of living water: everlasting life, permanent quenching of thirst, peace, freedom, and true worship. Wow! Those benefits outweigh the negative impact of resentment any day!

That’s nice, but how does it relate to my schedule and to my homeschool day?

“A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps” (Prov. 16:9 NKJV).

Let’s paraphrase that to say a homeschool mom plans her schedule, but the Lord directs her day. “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on [or about what you will teach]. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing [and learning more than lesson plans]? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?” (Matthew 6:25–27 NKJV). Which of you by holding onto resentment can add more peace to her day?

If anyone had the right to be upset about life not going her way lately, it’s my own mother. Instead, she has been living a sermon louder than most preachers preach. She fell and broke her arm in two places a few months ago, then had surgery to put in two permanent plates. The pain was excruciating, yet I have rarely heard her complain (after the first week). Not only that but a few weeks later she was compiling a lengthy list of things for which she was thankful—in relation to her fall! If my mother can be thankful with a broken arm, with being out of work (and out of money) for four months, and with not being able to do anything for herself, I should be able to steer clear of the poison of resentment when my schedule gets thrown off for a day. Message received loud and clear. No sermon needed.

Being a stubborn sinner and a slow learner, I often trip over God’s well of living water in my rush to pick up a peppermint latte. Lord, please help me to let go of resentment and to embrace your well of contentment. Please remind me that Your living water is so much better for me in the long run than the Enemy’s peppermint latte, no good matter how it tastes.

Bethany S. LeBedz has been married for over fifteen years and is the homeschooling mother to two delightful girls, ages thirteen and eleven. She lives in North Carolina. In addition to homeschooling, she is also a freelance editor and writer. She posts homeschool organization tips and educational reviews to her blog momishome2. In her (very limited) free time, she enjoys reading, participating in Daughters of the American Revolution and Children of the American Revolution, and performing in musical events.