3 Things to Do When Plans Change

Last week was a different kind of week. Nathan came down with strep throat so he stayed home on Monday. My day completely changed as I cared for him. I didn’t get any of the normal done. On Tuesday morning, I woke Nathan up for school. He complained of a headache and that his throat still hurt. I made the decision to keep Nathan home. Again, plans changed and I felt even more behind.

A Choice

On Tuesday especially, I needed to make a choice. Would I let the craziness of the week spiral me down or choose joy despite the changes? I decided to choose joy. It was hard to do but so worth the work. The three things that helped me were Prayer, Let go and Savor.

Prayer

First, I prayed. God is the source of all strength and joy. So, when I am struggling, I turn to Him and ask for help. God helped me to refocus as I put my eyes back on Him. I also reflected on one of my reminder verses, Philippians 4:6 which reads “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

Let Go

Second, I let go. There was a lot in my schedule last week that I didn’t get to because of a sick kid. Instead of trying to cram it in and being even more stressed, I decided to be realistic and just let it go. It was not easy, especially for my task-oriented self. But, the peace that came was amazing.

Savor

And lastly, I decided to savor. Nathan won’t be young forever. So, instead of thinking on all I didn’t get done I decided to focus on how much I got done with Nathan. I cared for him, played games, etc. It was a precious time to just be with Nathan. And that matters more than any to-dos.

Next time

So, the next time your plans change, I encourage you to pray, let go and savor whatever God has for you. I know it is not easy, but it’s so worth it. God’s peace is like nothing else.