Hopes and Dreams

A couple of weeks ago, I attended a MOPS (Mothers of Pre-Schoolers) meeting and spent some time with new and old friends. As I sat at a table talking with other moms, the conversation turned to the spacing of our children and the pros and cons of having them close together or far apart. There were several opinions based on a variety of experiences and life circumstances. One woman made the comment that life rarely turns out the way we plan or expect anyway. I tucked that statement in the back of my mind for the rest of the day.

That evening I had the opportunity to spend some time with some dear old friends. I went out to dinner with a couple of women whom I've know since high school and two mothers (who are also dear friends) of other friends with whom I went to high school and youth group. We all get together, give or take a few other women, every year to remember our friend who passed away nine years ago at the age of 21. Her mother is part of our standing dinner date every year. She is a strong, Christian woman who has been through a lot in the past nine years. Years after her daughter died, her husband left her for another woman. However, she has been very blessed to have her son remain close to her and she is now recently remarried to a great man who loves her deeply. She probably thought she'd be spending her retirement alone but God has blessed her with someone with whom to enjoy it.

I'm sure when she was my age she never thought her life would turn out this way. We all have our hopes and dreams but rarely do they come to fruition the way we have planned in our minds. Dreams are a great thing but if we get too stuck on them we can't move forward when they don't turn out the way we want. If my friend had chosen to dwell on her dreams from the past, she would have missed out on the blessing of her new husband. We may go through difficult times but God works through it all if we allow Him into our lives. He has better plans for us than we could ever dream.