A Lesson from my Rose-smelling Husband

I am a planner.  I organize my grocery lists by aisle.  I write out schedules for my day... even when I'm not leaving the house.  It drives me crazy to withdraw money from my savings account.  And I like to know what I'm wearing to church by Saturday night.

Some call it prepared, others embarrassing- but what can I say, I like to feel in control of my circumstances.  I take delight in drawing, detailing, and sitting back to enjoy the blueprints of my future.

My husband is not a planner. He probably holds the world record for the amount of times he has ran out of gas, due to procrastinating his trip to the gas station.  Even if we schedule a coast trip months ahead of time, he will wait to book the hotel until the week of.  When I gave him "permission" to name our son, he of course wanted to wait until he saw him to decide.

Some call it being laid back, others foolishness- I've certainly called it both.  You can imagine our conflicting approaches have created more than one argument in our 3 1/2 years of marriage. I have to admit, though, I've come to appreciate this characteristic that this man has ushered into my life.

While I may roll my eyes each time his phone sends me straight to the voicemail, because he forgot to charge it, Sam has truly taught me so much about living in the moment... loosening my white-knuckled grip on life... and trusting in Jesus.

The problem we planners tend to overlook is that much (I dare say most) of our time spent printing directions, frantically organizing details, and potentially preventing mayhem is spent in vain.  Often,  our plans go awry despite all our efforts. But even when they don't- when we come in on budget, the wedding goes off without a hitch, the babies go down for naps on time- I fear that the stress and worry invested in "making it happen" has robbed us of enjoying those very things we carefully plan.  In fact, we are often so busy planning the next thing, that we never get the satisfaction of where we are at.

Yes, planning has its pros.  I will still organize my shopping list by aisle.  But I hope... I pray... that in the last few years I have become more flexible.  Enjoyed more.  Become more enjoyable. Maybe even engraved deeper smile wrinkles to match the ones I've so faithfully carved into my furrowed brow of concern.  I also hope that in the coming years, I will become even more trusting of the Sovereignty of God and more content with where he has placed me.

It's a beautiful place... Sit back and smell your roses, I guarantee you'll find the same.