Hands...

God's Hand

I met so many wonderful people during my time as an administrator. One woman stands out particularly vividly when I feel I can't control a situation. I was blessed to talk with her a few times. On one occasion, she gave me some advice. Put everything into two hands. One hand, you can control. The other hand, you cannot. My husband will frequently say two words, "Which Hand?" It reminds me of our conversation and I quickly compartmentalize the situation. That doesn't mean I stop trying to control things, but I do put a different perspective on the situation. It made a huge difference and I thank her daily (in my mind) for that advice. As a person who deals with OCD and ODD daily, I think I need that control. I need to know I'm in charge of something.

My husband and I are what many would call "dull." We work and have very few extracurricular involvements. Our lives revolve around our small family, church, farm, work, and a few close friends. New Year's Eve gatherings have never been part of our lives. We stay home, try to watch the ball drop, and then hit the bed. The new year will come whether we stay up and watch the clock or sleep through it. We can't control the date, hour, or time.

Many people make resolutions for the New Year. They decide to lose weight, reduce debt, pay off bills, buy a house, start a family, go to church, read their Bible more, or any number of things. It has always amazed me that a calendar pointing to a new month would be the decision to do these things. Why? Why wait? Why start at a new year? Why not now? We do control these things. We control what we do and when we do that. I have said before in my blog, I didn't have a lot of control growing up. Dueteronomy 31:8 says "The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged" The control I thought I needed, I already had.

You see, people have what's called free will. The free will to choose the things we do. Some would call that our control. Proverbs 16:9 says, "The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps". God controls the outcome. He allows me to have that free will. Quietly, patiently waiting for me to realize that the outcome has been planned for me. God does control everything. In essence, my friend was right. However, there is another hand, His hand. I am learning daily that I don't need to decide which hand, God already did. It is His hands.