A Light for My Path

When this publishes, we will have just returned from celebrating our niece’s college graduation. She is a smart, beautiful young lady with a bright future ahead of her. She majored in Sports Management at University of Tennessee Knoxville and worked as a manager for the girls’ basketball team while getting her undergrad degree. She will be continuing her education towards a master’s degree in Sports Administration at a small Christian college in Nashville. She is a hard worker, very organized, and a planner like her mother. (And, ahem, like her aunt.)

There’s nothing wrong with planning. Some people are comfortable with “just wingin’ it” and waking up each morning eager to see what surprises await them. Their theme song could be “que sera, sera.” I’m not one of those people. “Whatever will be, will be” is way outside my comfort zone. I have a to do list on paper and on my phone calendar for each day. If I do something extra, I add it to my list so I can have the satisfaction of checking it off.

Truly, I hope my niece isn’t quite as obsessive about her plans and schedules as I am. My sweet husband has put up with my over-planning for 34 years now. He wouldn’t be surprised to find out I have the next 34 mapped out, as well. But, I wouldn’t recommend a detailed 60-year plan to a young person just starting out.

Thankfully, my organized niece is also a faithful Christian and a follower of God’s Word. I’m sure she is familiar with the advice that King Solomon offered in Proverbs 16:3:

Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans.

Proverbs 16:3

She knows God has the long view. He knows what the future holds and can help us make the best of our gifts and blessings. And also weather the storms of trials and challenges if we put our trust and faith in Him. Yes, He has given us free will. We can decide to choose our own path in life. Sometimes we choose the wrong one. But, if we keep coming back to Him when we wander astray, He will forgive us and guide us. And, if we listen hard, He will explain the lessons we can learn from our errors.

I pray my niece doesn’t take as many detours in her life as I have. I hope the roadblocks she encounters serve as a pause to consider which direction to turn. It would thrill my heart if she adopted the same life verse as her cousin Rachel:

Your word is a lamp for my feet, and a light for my path. Psalm 119:105

According to the poet Robert Burns, “The best laid plans of mice and men, oft go awry.” At the end of his poem, Mr. Burns speaks of looking back at dreary prospects and at the fear he feels about the future because he cannot see it. *

We don’t know either what the future holds, despite all our human plans. But, dear Virginia, you don’t have to be afraid. Go ahead and make your plans. You’ve got this. You know why? Because, God’s got you.

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Laura (aka Aunt Laurie)

*Paraphrased from “To a Mouse” by Robert Burns.