“Plans” Turn Into Stages
September 24, 2022
Once upon a time, a girl sat curled up in her father’s big gray armchair in his study in her favorite house. She was reading her favorite of the six or seven of Dr. James Dobson’s parenting books her father had on the shelf underneath all the amazing Lawhead and Brooks books with enticing names like “In the Hall of the Dragon King” and “Taliesin.”
“Children at Risk” was her favorite because it focused on the parent improving their lives through Jesus’ help in order to pass their faith on to their children. It was her favorite because for three years, she had been rereading it to help her understand how to pray for and lead her siblings. One song when she was ten and her father’s comment of, “God made you their big sister just like I’m your father,” led her on this journey.
Her dream was to be an author whose stories made people reach for Jesus. Her purpose has been to pour into children.
From as early as she could volunteer, she chose to be a volunteer Sunday School or VBS teacher. She loved teaching and started with tutoring her siblings, friends, and eventually other children. She tried to end up being a school teacher; life led her a different way. Every twist led to the next turn. It was the journey…
It’s true; no one ever returns from a journey. They continue into a new part of the journey. Trips you return from. Life isn’t a trip; it is a journey of mind, heart, soul, and spirit.
This stage of her journey is year twenty of being a wife, year nineteen or being a mother, year fourteen of being a homeschooling family, year four as a gymnastics coach – currently preschool, and year two of kids’ ministry small group leader.
In each stage and with each passing year, she chooses to be thankful.
Of course, “she” is me.
I’ve learned to enjoy each stage as it happens. This isn’t just with my children as they grow but with my “stages” as well. I am allowing Jesus to continually work on me; I’m a constant work in progress. My Daddy used to say if he ever stopped learning, his brain would go stagnant and he’d laugh. I love that thought. We are forever a work in progress!
Thank you for reading,
Type at you later!
~Nancy Tart