ASPIRE

Many are the plans in a 

person's heart, but it is the

LORD's purpose that

prevails. -- Proverbs 

19:21, NIV

ASPIRE was a word prompt in a weekly challenge I usually participate in. 

I started out by writing, "When I was very little I aspired to be a ballerina, and a few years later I aspired to be a concert pianist. Neither aspiration materialized. 

Then some years later I aspired to get married to someone I would grow old with and still be walking down the street with hand in hand. And I did get married, but my husband and I did not grow old together.

When I graduated from graduate school and was offered the job of my dreams, I opted for marriage and a move across the border. Sometimes I wonder what my life would now be if I had made a different choice."

Those words are still in my mind, as is a line I read (and it was not in Robert Frost's poem), that said "Don't regret the road not taken--you don't know where it would have led." I wish I could give credit to whoever wrote it, because it has turned out to be oh so true.

What seemed like tragedies in my past opened doors to many good things that would never have happened otherwise. An ill-advised marriage that turned out to be ill-fated as well, nevertheless led to the birth of two wonderful children from whom have come seven beautiful grandchildren and six great-grands.

There were other doors that opened as well, perhaps the most unexpected one being suddenly becoming an author of children's picture books in my senior years. 

But the best one of all came as the result of a journey I embarked on after my husband's untimely death. After many twists and turns, and getting lost along the way, it led me to the foot of the cross. 

Now what I wonder is quite different. I wonder if I had not made the choices I made early on, would I ever have felt a need for the Lord or for His saving grace? Would I have spent my life chasing after the things this world has to offer, instead of the things that have eternal value? Would I have missed God's gift of salvation, a greater tragedy by far?

My blog friend, Brenda, left a very true comment on my other post. "The most comforting thing in this world is (knowing) where we, as believers in Jesus, will go when we pass."