The grass is NEVER greener

I heard a story today. The kind that usually makes me sad. And cry. And throw a pathetic pity party.

But I didn't.

Here's why:

I learned today that my maid of honor, with whom I had a falling out soon after the wedding, is pregnant. She has not been married as long as I have and married someone that more than a few people told her was a bad idea.

The part that gave me pause was that this wasn't the end of the story.

Apparently around the beginning of her pregnancy, her husband lost his job. So she has to go right back to work shortly after she has the baby (which was not part of her plan, knowing her).  Losing the job led to them losing their house because it was tied to the job. Her and her husband were forced to move in with his parents.

So sure she's pregnant, but now her two income family is down to one, they are homeless, and her plans of being a stay at home mom have gone up in smoke.

I'll admit - when I heard the first part about her pregnancy, I braced myself to feel the tsunami of sadness. I didn't feel it. The rest of the story could have made me feel smug. I didn't feel that either.

Here's what I felt:

Humility.

This story hit me between the eyes. I saw myself in it. Yes, I realize she's pregnant and I'm not, but if you dig just a little deeper, God reveals just a glimpse of himself if you dare to look closely enough.

In both our stories, we are setting out with our own goals and plans. Marry the person of our choice, work until you have kids, have said kids, stay home with them, raise them, and live happily ever after.  Or some close iteration of those plans.

While we both may have started with the same plan and ended up with different stories, we still have one common message   This life isn't ours. This world isn't ours. Our best intentions and plans are laughable. They're pointless. God took both our plans and turned them inside out and has used them to teach us lessons. The lessons belong to each of us and our own journeys. But we both are being shown by God that HE is in control. HE has the plans. HE is the one who matters and what HE wants.

I am tremendously grateful I found out about this old friend and her circumstances. I now see my situation differently. I don't feel sorry for myself. I don't think the "grass is greener" on the other side of my neighbors fence. I now see that my journey is just that. My journey. Her journey is her journey. Your journey is your journey. No matter what situation we find ourselves in, we are ALL in situations. Sinners is what we all are and we all need the blood of Christ to save us.

My perspective has completely changed.

Like I said. This story hit me between the eyes. And I couldn't be more grateful.