Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Throw it out the Door

I have learned a valuable lesson these past 3 weeks. Sometimes, you have to throw your plans out the door.

Let me explain...

I am a 5th grade teacher in northern Indiana. Many of you know that we have been puked on my Old Man Winter at random times recently. Being that I also coach basketball and the season has begun, I planned ahead. Over Thanksgiving Break, I planned out some things to get up to Christmas Break (to have goals and to keep my life a little less crazy during bball). I made sure to plan in 2 "weather days" just in case. Well, we have had 4 days cancelled and at least 2 or 3 delays. Needless to say, all the planning has kind of gone down the tubes. I spent a full day at school today - with no students- working on things. I was going to figure out my lesson plans for the remaining 3 days, but have decided to just keep the plan book blank. Oh, I have a few notes of things that MUST get done but I am not going to stress over it anymore. We will just go with the flow.

Now for the lesson I've learned. I'm sure I am not the only one guilty of this either. I tend to plan my life: the typical "5 or 10-year-plan" and it always gets messed up. I am so focused on where I want me to be and I lose sight of the plans that God has for me. He even tells us in Jeremiah 29:11 "'For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'"

Sometimes we have to just throw our plans out the door. Sometimes we have to just live in the moment that God has blessed us with. Sometimes we tend to focus so much on making plans that we miss the opportunities God has right in front of us.

Do you need to throw it out the door? Does God have something amazing right in front of you that is going unnoticed because of your agenda?

12 comments:

Angela said...

Excellent thoughts!!! I, too, am trying not to worry about things, knowing that it will all just work out as it always does! miss you!!! love ya!

jenn said...

oh dina! i loved your words. thanks so much for sharing this with us. i was so glad to see a post, but then i get to hear your lovely thoughts at home. so i am the lucky one! i am enjoying watching this journey you are on and all you are open to. may many wonderful opportunities come from the throwing out of your agenda...and may i learn from you just how to do that ;). love ya lots...m.e.

Niki said...

Yeah, what a great post! Thanks for the reminder to keep on God's plan instead of our own!! Have a Merry Christmas!!

Jess said...

dina, you always overwhelm me with your posts! they are so awesome and remind me to keep the focus on God! Thanks for sharing and love you tons!!!

Anonymous said...
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Dina said...

Barb, Who are you? DO I know you? Dina

Anonymous said...
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Mrs. Johnson said...

Oh, I just discovered your blog and I am looking forward to catching up with the posts. I loved your questions at the end. So how do you balance coaching and teaching?

Susan Nations said...

Yep, sometimes we DO have to put our plans aside for a bigger and higher purpose.

Enjoyed my visit here!!

:-) Susan

Dina said...

Ms. Mize -
I won't lie, balancing teaching and coaching is tough. Thank goodness I coach with my dad so he helps out. Also, I really try to use my time wisely...plan ahead (even though the snow days make that tough sometimes). I am confident that I am right where God wants me and His word tells us that he does not give us more than we can handle. With Him, all things are possible. :) Dina

Anonymous said...

Hey Dina...It's Jay Haugh. Found your blog through Darcy's. Pleased to see all your God talk that you have posted. Drop me an email sometime...jayhaugh@hotmail.com...i assume you remember me from high school....otherwise this is super awkward.

Anonymous said...

You write very well.