My friend Erin Hutchins sent me this via e-mail. It's really neat, especially the last paragraph! :) Take the time to read this!

The Plan

I am a planner. I like thinking ahead. I like being prepared. I get a high from being on top of things. But some things are beyond planning.

And life….doesn’t always turn out as you plan.

You don’t plan for a broken heart.
You don’t plan for a business failure.
You don’t plan for a spouse who turns on you.
Or, wants you out of their life.
You don’t plan for an autistic child.
You don’t plan for spinsterhood.
You don’t plan for a lump in your breast.

You plan to be young forever. You plan to climb the corporate ladder.
You plan to be rich and powerful. You plan to be acclaimed and successful.
You plan to conquer the universe. You plan to fall in love- and to be loved forever.

You don’t plan to be sad. You don’t plan to be hurt. You don’t plan to be broke.
You don’t plan to be betrayed. You don’t plan to be alone in this world.
You don’t plan to be shattered.
Sometimes if you work hard enough, you can get what you want.

But most times, what you want and what you get are two different things.
We, mortals, plan. But so does God.
Sometimes, it is difficult to understand - especially when his plans are not in sync with ours. Often when God sends us crisis, we turn to him in anger. True, we cannot choose the cross that God wishes us to carry, BUT we can carry that cross with courage knowing that God will never abandon us nor send something we cannot cope with.

Sometimes God breaks our spirit to save our soul.
Sometimes, He breaks our heart to make us whole.
Sometimes, God sends us pain so that we can be stronger.
Sometimes, God sends us failure so that we can be humble.
Sometimes, God sends us illness so that we can take better care of ourselves.
Sometimes, God takes everything away from us so that we can learn the value of everything he gave us.