A Good Book....

Don’t you just love a good book? I am not exactly what one would call a bookworm. But I definitely love to read and books are always within my reach! When we travel, I have a bag of books that go with me. When I go to bed, there are books within reach to complete my day. When we go to the bookstore, you guessed it…we add more books to our collection. Even in my kitchen, there are forty-plus cookbooks from which to choose!

Do you want to know one of my secret enjoyments? I love to read the dictionary! I love to read and I love books! I don’t just read them…I highlight them, I make notes in the margins and I often reread the book just in case I missed something the first time. I even try to observe the cover, the outline, the author’s style, etc.. I promise I am not a bookworm. I just love books!

It was always a pleasure to watch our children come home from school on library day. I enjoyed watching them grow in reading abilities…but I also loved to observe their varied interests increase. And it was a very big day when they were finally reading “chapter books.” We recently found six boxes of children’s books that belong to our daughter which she wanted to take to her apartment. Oh, the memories of reading those together. Yes, I was the mom that read to our children even before they were born! Books are fascinating, educational, enjoyable and adventurous. We learn so much when we open our minds to reading.

As I mentioned before, reading a great book, I don’t want to miss anything in it. It would not make sense to skip a paragraph…or a chapter in that book. Why? Well, it would change everything! Somehow, the story or informational topic would be incomplete. We wouldn’t feel that we had completed the story. It has often been said that our lives are God writing our story. Ask any author and they will tell you that writing a book is quite a process. Sure, the concept may arise rather quickly. Sometimes it may not. But the process of developing, planning, writing, proofing, rewriting, adding, deleting and completing a book takes time. We want it to flow. We want the main thing to be the main thing. Sometimes a seed is planted in one chapter that doesn’t present itself entirely until several chapters later. Often, twists and turns are unexpectedly presented to keep it interesting or to emphasize the plot or theme of the book.

Yet, while we patiently read each word, paragraph and chapter of a book, we often try to avoid chapters of our lives. Isn’t this something we all find ourselves doing occasionally? We may really enjoy certain chapters and want to remain in them. But life moves on and we find ourselves in chapters we are not too comfortable living. They may be chapters of heartache, loss, loneliness, abandonment, rejection, transition, illness or uncertainty. We aren’t writing the story and we don’t understand why this chapter has to be included in our lives. We may even secretly mumble that if we were in control, we would never allow such a chapter in someone’s story. We do not enjoy this. We want this chapter over now!

Oh, how the chapters of my life have not been without those transitional moments! I, too, have found myself wishing that all my chapters could be like other ones I have enjoyed. I loved the chapters of my college years when I met some amazing lifelong friends, toured with the Concert Choir, learned more than I ever imagined possible, wound up with three majors, (Bible, Counseling/Psychology, Elementary Education), a minor, (English), and somehow lacked one hour of another minor, (Music). There were times during college that weren’t enjoyable but my college chapters were definitely amazing ones. In fact, those chapters changed my life forever! I walked away a different person because each experience…whether enjoyable or challenging…was used by God to stretch my faith and lead me closer to Him. I didn’t always enjoy getting up early or staying late for classes. I didn’t enjoy a semester with twenty-one hours of class plus work-study combined. I didn’t enjoy becoming ill and missing almost a week of classes. Walking the beautiful campus…on crutches…wasn’t so thrilling, either. But each moment taught me, stretched me and transformed me.

Earlier and later chapters of my life weren’t always so enjoyable. There were times I wish I could have avoided entirely. I may never understand why they were a part of my story. But I learned so much during those times. They weren’t easy. They were sometimes heartbreaking. Facing multiple surgeries within a small amount of time was not my plan. But they were necessary and contributed to my health and well-being. Job changes, loss of family members and friends, shattered dreams and delayed plans often brought unexpected chapters of adjustment, grief and reframing our lives. I wish I could tell you that I immediately lifted my hands to God and thanked Him for new direction and lessons learned…but that wasn’t my exact response. However, I will tell you that no matter what the chapters have included in my life, God continues to write my story.

Our amazing Creator, Father, Savior, Redeemer, Healer and King is not finished with my life…or yours. He sees the entire book. I only see a paragraph…sometimes a mere sentence…or even a simple word. He hasn’t completed my story just yet and each chapter He writes is essential. This precious Lover of my soul can take all the brokenness of life and turn it into something so beautiful, amazing and incredible, that the book truly reflects it could only be authored by God! Each mistake I make, each twist and turn of life, whatever satan intends for destruction or defeat…God can transform pain into purpose, conflict into compassion, tears for triumphs and brokenness into blessings! He never stops loving, caring, healing and leading our stories into His story…His plan…His exceedingly, abundant, amazing and eternal hope-filled masterpiece.

Realizing that one chapter of my life is simply that…a chapter He can use to develop for His glory, praise, honor and purpose…gives me great assurance that He is still writing and my story is in His hands…completely. I may not understand. Most often, I don’t. I may not find it pleasant. But I always know it is purposeful for the very One who created me still loves me…and cares enough to continue writing my story…with His very own hands for His very own reasons. I have no idea when my book will be complete as He welcomes me Home. But one thing is for sure….I am thankful that I will not face any chapter alone…and I will someday meet the Wonderful Author of Love, Hope, Grace and Mercy, Himself. Until then, I cling to Him…and cherish each chapter as it unfolds…placing my story…in His hands.♥~thl