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Sunday, June 11, 2017

Not This Way!




  "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."
  Isaiah 55:8-9


 My Little Buddy and I often go for rides and rides are one of his favorite activities. He especially loves back roads with their twists and turns-  raising his little arms in the air as if he's riding an amusement park ride and giggling when the road takes a turn he didn't anticipate from his spot behind the driver's seat. And he's very aware of which direction I'm taking him and whether it's a direction that may mean his ride is coming to an end or whether it looks like we're riding awhile longer.

  One day we were riding and I turned onto a road headed in the direction of home. Little Buddy immediately assumed the worst-  this ride was coming to an end and he was NOT ready for this turn of events! So the crying and the flailing and the throwing of random objects began. In vain I tried to get him to understand that this was not my intention,  I simply needed to go this way to get to another fun road to explore. But he couldn't understand what I was trying to explain. He only knew how it looked at that moment - we were headed in the wrong direction and this wasn't good. Not only was he miserable because he didn't like where he thought we were going, but he was also missing the fun of the ride at that moment. Of course, as soon as I made the next the peace was restored and sunny smiles returned.
  As I watched him, (and ducked random flying objects), I wished there was a way I could make him understand that what looked to him like a wrong turn was really only the shortest route to something even better.  And then I realized that I often behave in much the same way.  Sometimes in life things happen that to me look like a wrong turn. And while I don't physically kick, flail, and throw things (much), mentally and emotionally I can be quite a mess. And I wondered if God looks at me and says "Daughter, you just don't understand because you can't see around the next turn. But what looks to you like a wrong turn,  is really the best route to something so much better!"
  Interestingly enough, later that very same week I found myself in a situation that looked to me very much like a wrong turn. And I wasted several days stewing and fretting, trying to hide tears just under the surface, and wondering why I had to go this way. I lost sleep and found myself viewing everything else negatively as well. But remembering Little Buddy and the "wrong turn" did help me to have hope and begin to enjoy the journey again even though I wasn't sure where we were going. And, surprise,  surprise! My Heavenly Father knew exactly where He was taking me and it was to a good place!

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