Hodges' Home: NOT according to plan...

I am a planner. I have lists and I like for things to happen according to MY plans. Don't most of us??

I met Baby "E" a couple of months ago, just as work was beginning (again) on my long awaited blogsite for my photography. MY plan was that Baby "E" would be my first "Sneak Peek" on the new blogsite. How perfect would that have been... "And now... introducing..." - Baby E and my blogsite! New baby, new blogsite! It would have been great.

Obviously, since I am posting the sneak peeks of Baby "E" here and not on my blogsite, things haven't gone according to plan. (Don't worry, "E"s mommy got a cd of all the pics a long time ago...)

December is now in full bloom and my thoughts shift to another time and another place when things didn't go according to plan. A young bride to be, anticipating all that marriage and life would have for her, never dreaming that HER plans would be interrupted and altered with eternal effects. I've wondered what it must have been like to be Mary - to be that young teenager who has to face her groom, her parents, her family and tell them that an angel told her she was going to be the mother of God's son.

Can you imagine the terror that must have taken hold of her initially?? She was fully aware that Joseph could have her put away. She was fully aware that she could have been stoned for what others surely assumed was infedility. She was fully aware that her plan had just been changed. Forever.

And yet, she remained calm. Nowhere in scripture do I find that Mary panicked or ran away or hid or did anything other than rest in God's plan. She knew who held her in the palm of His hand and she knew that He would take care of her. I'm sure that must be why God chose her and not me or any of the rest of us. Oh, to have Mary's calm spirit, to have her faith, to have her peace.

This holiday season I have a plan. Things to do. Places to go. People to see. Gifts to buy. The list is never ending.

This holiday season He has a plan. Things to do - places to go - people to touch and the greatest gift has already been given. His list is bigger than mine. You and I are on His list.

Take a peek at Baby E and imagine another baby, just as perfect, just as beautiful, just as human, who a little over 2000 years ago became the greatest gift ever given. His toes were just as tiny, his fingers just as precious, his yawn's just as big. His mommy held Him in her hands just like Baby E's mommy holds her.

Imagine Mary staring at her baby with all the wonder and joy that Baby E's mommy is looking at her. Imagine what it must have been like to have your plans not just a little but changed, but turned inside out and upside down.

The timeless entered the temporal. It was all part of His plan and aren't you glad?

Sweet Baby "E"