The LONG Way Around

I heard a country song the other day....okay most days because I just LOVE country music! Not some of that new stuff that they "call" country music. Some of it is waaay too "poppy." Not that I don't like pop, I do. But when I want to listen to country, well, that's what I want to hear.
Anyway, back to my point. I think it was the Dixie Chicks (yes, those controversial "chicks") But I think it is an older song that they redid. Anyway, the lyrics that make up most of the chorus are: Takin' the long way around. Yep, that's it. Just a few words that really got me. Mainly because that is how I feel like my life has been. At least for the last eight or so years.

I had somewhat of a plan for my life and well, life happened! And of course, not how I had expected. Isn't life funny like that? Okay, so sometimes it's NOT funny at all. It's annoying, it's disappointing, it frustrating, it's...need I go on?
The plans of a man's heart are many, but it is the Lord's will that prevails. That is somewhere in the Psalms. And isn't it SO true?
But in the end God truly knows what is best for us. Sure, we don't think of it at the time. Perhaps we will never come to realize it. But He truly knows best. Even in the most troubling of circumstances.

You see all I really ever wanted out of life (besides my wonderful Godly husband and my precious children) was to find a place we could settle down. A place we loved, a place where we had community and could live our life. All in all, I was looking for stability.
I never thought that was too much to ask. After all that's what MOST people do, right? Wrong. I don't know the percentage of people who settle down right away and have a house with a picket fence and the whole shabang, but I know it is not everyone and maybe it is not even MOST people either. Although I really have no clue. I am just speculating. Anyway, my point is, throughout the years and the moves. (we have lived in 8 different places since we have been married. Two of them being with family and one of them moving back to the same area. Oh yes, and one out of state.) Hmmm...is that all? Yes, I think that is PLENTY thank you very much:)

Anyway, through it I have learned a lot of things and some of them I am still learning and no I am not happy about it:) Because learning is hard sometimes, a lot of times. Most times. And it requires us to really focus and sometimes make changes. Oh yes, change, that was one of my "points" too. I don't really like change. I mean maybe a little bit. Like changing around the decor in my house, that's fun. And changing my clothes, yes that is necessary and sometimes fun. And changing the sheets on your bed, yes, that's good too. Fresh sheets are delightful. But what about those changes that are not so fun or delightful.

Yep. I can think if A LOT of them. Because I have been through them. Like changing the baby's diaper at 2am when all you want to do is sleep and you wake up in the morning to find that you have not only been sleeping in the bed with your husband but also with that lovely diaper. Gross. That is not a nice "change."
What about living somewhere for 4 years and making friends and finally loving your house because your husband remodeled the terrible kitchen and bath (and I mean TERRIBLE) And now it is AMAZING. What about finding out that your husband was laid off AND you are pregnant (with your second child) all in the SAME week! Yah, that is a crazy change. What about leaving two jobs in ministry because they were not the places they said they were. And you were mislead and mistreated. And no said they were sorry for the damage they caused in your spirit, your heart, and in your family.
Nope I would say none of that sounds like good change to me. Sounds like difficult change and LAME change and NOT SO FUN change...need I go on?
These are some of the few changes that have happened in the last 8 or so years of my life. And there are more. Some huge ones and some smaller...but all difficult. Not easy to bear to say the least.

Through it all and like I said I am still learning and I KNOW there will be MORE change, perhaps sooner than later. Although I don't want it. It will probably be better in the long run. But it is hard to look at the "long run" when all you really care about right now is the "SHORT RUN!" The "what is happening now", "the present"

"today" and maybe "tomorrow" but no further than that thank you very much.
Oh, how I wish I were done learning in this area. I wish I didn't have to think about the next time we might move or the next house I have to decorate and the next church we will attend or the next friends I have to make. I don't want to! But I will.
Because that is what I do. That is what WE do. "WE" as in all of us. We "roll with the punches" , We "stick it out", We "hang in there." All sayings you have probably heard from your mother and hated. (the sayings, not your mother.)
Because we don't know what the Lord has in store for us. We pray, we seek His will, and then, well, we pretty much wait to see what happens.
I know that all of the "craziness" in my life will make sense someday. Now, I might be in heaven by then, but either way I think I will find out. And I look forward to that day, whether it be in heaven or on earth. "OH, so THAT'S why my life was like that!" "WOW, God you are AMAZING, I never would have thought of that."

All in all my life is about glorifying the Lord and worshiping HIM. So whether I am here or there or everywhere, I want to glorify Him. I want to encourage others no matter what I am going through. I think God uses us MOST when we are vulnerable and authentic. In fact, I think that is the ONLY way that the Lord can use us. Let's be real and not act like we have it all together, because we don't. And if there is someone that you think does, well, I suggest spying on them so you can find out that they DON'T! Just kidding. (about the spying part...that might be illegal or something.)
So, "hang in there" if you are going through something tough. Most likely you are or you will in the future. Life is about change like that.
A wise woman I worked with in church said, "God is your constant." Things around you will change and you might move or have a change in profession. But in the end "God is your constant." He will NEVER change. He will always be with you. In front of you to lead you, behind you to protect you and beside you to comfort you.

So I will hold on to this....GOD IS MY CONSTANT, He is YOUR CONSTANT. I (we) need to hold on to that because it is the only way I will make it as I'm "takin' the LONG way around."