WELL," said my husband as he leaned down to loosen the strings of his shoes as we prepared to retire, "that wasn't the kind of day I planned."
I chuckled as I said, "Nor was it the kind I had planned."
"But it was very nice seeing those two again. Pete is so enthusiastic about his work." My husband shook his head as he continued, "There was a time when we thought he'd never make it. His grades were so poor. He didn't seem to know how to study, but he learned with---encouragement. Now he is so mature. Look at him a church of his own already. It's wonderful what the Holy Spirit can do for one who is dedicated."
Each of us had had plans that Sunday to accomplish much that had been waiting for attention. We had no appointments and the day was clear so we thought. We were just getting down to business when the front doorbell rang, and there on the doorstep stood two young people, past students, grinning from ear to ear. We were delighted to see them and shared their enthusiasm as they told us of their church activities. We helped them find material they needed to carry on various branches of the work, and of course we invited them to share our meal with us.
They had hardly departed when another ring called us to the front door.
"Do you have a few minutes to spare?" the man at the door pleaded. "I need so much to talk to you about ------," and his long face and troubled mien showed that he was indeed in need of help. It was two hours or more before he left, but it was with a lighter step and a happier expression.
In our house we always say of Sundays, "Well, this is the day to expect anything or anyone." It's always been to us like one of those grab bags. We never know what or whom a Sunday may bring. Perhaps no one, and perhaps everything and everyone. Yes, it's a real surprise day.
Sometimes a day of this sort can be very frustrating. You say to yourself, gritting your teeth as you do so, "I've just got to get this done today," and when an interruption comes you are all upset because you've either got to give up your plans or else burn the midnight oil to finish them when everybody's gone to bed.
You're kneading the dough--and the doorbell rings.
You're washing your hair--and the telephone rings.
You're making the outline of a talk and someone in the family wants help, and now! and how!
Oh, how frustrated we can get at having our plans all disrupted, and how much harm we can do ourselves by giving in to this frustration!
After all, why should we feel that way? In the morning we consecrate ourselves to God. "Make this your very first work," the servant of the Lord tells us.
Yes, I always do that, you say. Well, read on. "Let your prayer be, 'Take me, O Lord, as wholly Thine. I lay all my plans at Thy feet. Use me today in Thy service. Abide with me, and let all my work be wrought in Thee.' " Then she goes on to counsel us, "Surrender all your plans to Him, to be carried out or given up as His providence shall indicate." ---Steps to Christ, p. 70.
That is where our trouble often lies. We carefully make plans---our plans---and then fret because we cannot carry them out be cause of interruptions. But this is not what we are asked to do. We are to submit our plans to the Master, and then if He sees fit to alter them in some way we must remember that it is His plans that we are to carry out.
So that dress you didn't cut out, that flower border you didn't weed, that cake you didn't get around to baking, that talk you did not prepare, that article you did not copy, were not so important as the things that came as interruptions. The word of encouragement you spoke, that material you took the time to hunt up and explain to a young worker, that sound counsel you gave, may have been a turning point in the life and work of the one who "interrupted."
Accept those interruptions for what they are---a change of plans ordered by God. And in doing this you will lose the frustrated feeling you might otherwise have harbored and will be content in the knowledge that you are doing God's will and carrying out His purposes.
In accepting what comes you will have the following promise: "Thus day by day you may be giving your life into the hands of God, and thus your life will be molded more and more after the life of Christ."--Ibid.
