Different Paths

 "When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, 'If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt. ' So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea." Exodus 13:17-18

Does your path in life seems a little like the path the Israelite's went on!? You expected the road to the right; the shorter path, the direct path, the easier path, the path that is like the nose on your face right in front of you!? And then you discover that God wants to bring you on the path to the left.

For me I can go back to the start of my life as an adult and see that God and I were together on the destination but I have always been surprised by his choice in paths. Let me share a few of those paths with you. From the time I was very young, kindergarten age, I wanted a big family of my own. I even brought home, without anyone's permission, a little boy from school one day.  When my mama told me he had to go back because he would miss his family I brought him and his brother home the next day. LOL! I am sure that was interesting for my mama. God gave me a beautiful family but God didn't take me on the path I expected. The destination was the same for God and myself but it took me years to see it. I thought building God's kingdom here on earth meant many children, my heart was built for children, and both my husband and I come from large families. So my path was to have many children to get to that destination but God only gave us two. God had the same destination in mind for me but he knew which path was best. He gave me a heart for children and then he expected much from me knowing what I was capable of, what I was to encounter up ahead on the path, and how to grow and strengthen me.  

 There was the path of homeschooling. I have always been confident that God opened that door but the path I thought I was going down was paved, unobstructed, no hills...easy, peasy! Not the path God took me on! The path God chose for me was hard...rewarding and the desire of my heart but like a trek up a mountain through the forest! It took commitment; you have to give all of yourself for those years. It took a tough skin...almost a shell. I schooled during the 90's and into the 2000's. It was misunderstood and frowned upon. You got no help from your local school board so it was expensive. And we found many people wanted to take the option away from us. And the constant negativity hidden by concern about our children turning out anti social, weird, and not becoming functioning adults. And at times it was lonely. My children and their education, which depended totally on their father and I took so much focus and commitment. We didn't say goodbye in the morning, as we got our children on a bus, and then had the day to be part of a women's bible study, lunch with friends, run around target looking at home goods. We woke up each and everyday to children and the weight of the pressures of having to get their schooling done amid the normal running of a home, paying bills, doctor's appointments, etc. Where I went my children went! And their rough paths. If one of them were having a hard day we all had a hard day. And we had many, many hard days. It could be very lonely. Yet, God chose that path for me.  Amidst the journey through the woods and up the mountain was an indescribable joy. I learned to search out teachable God moments with my children. God provided opportunities for them to serve their grandparents, to be part of our larger family, to give of their selves, to mold huge hearts for God and to make so many memories. Both my children understand sacrifice and caring about others more than themselves. Praise God  for the longer, more difficult path!

I know by now, if you haven't walked away from this post, that you understand what I am trying to get across. And I pray that your mind is going over some of your paths in the past and looking at them differently as you mull them over. For me, and I am not a quick study, my surprise and acceptance of the paths went on. For the past fifteen years my path has definitely been all God's and not what I expected. My expectation was to get the kiddos into college and then take some time for my husband and myself. Ease into a life of no pressures and a little less responsibility.  An easy path right!? Not so much. I ended up going back to college at the same time my children started. In my last semester my daughter was in a near fatal truck accident. So we have dealt with a rocky path over the last 12 years. One surgery after another, trying to heal from surgeries and then the normal dealing with injuries that are still there. During that time though I was blessed with two beautiful, loving, grandbabies which I helped to take care of while Mommy worked. That was a commitment  that I willingly made but being in my fifties wasn't the smooth, easy path I envisioned in my brain. Yet, God knew the right path for me. Then there was the commitment of taking care of aging parents. A privilege and an honor but a much harder journey than I would have ever thought. While I was barely making it along the path, tired and hurting, putting much pressure on myself to give them the very best in care and also trying to wrap my head around life without my loving parents my youngest, my son, was diagnosed with lung cancer. And the day he called to give me the surgery date was the day I was in the car driving to my brother's home out of state. I was headed there to bury him. He had just died of a massive heart attack!

Forty plus years ago I had my adult path in life planned out. It was an easy jump on the map from point A to B. The destination of my life was the same between God and I but all I could see was the short route. God's path was along the desert road toward a sea that he knew he was going to part for me to pass through. And as in Exodus 13:21-22..."by day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night lift its place in front of the people," God has gone ahead of me and helped me travel down HIS path. And I also, like the Israelites who begged to back to Egypt to the slavery they were trying to escape, because they didn't understand where God was taking them I too have had doubts and questions. But our God has the overall path, the overall map and he is faithful not only to send us down his path but to guide us down the way to a miracle, a parting of the sea and to a life fuller than we can imagine. Thank you Lord for your pillar of clouds and your pillar of fire. May I always follow them wherever path you take me!

Blessings my friends!