A few weeks ago one of my friends and I were playing the game Villainous. If you follow me on Instagram, you might have picked up that I LOVE this game. In my opinion, it’s the best Disney themed game out there.
My friend had two of the expansion packs, so I was excited to play as new characters. Of course, I picked Mother Gothel from Tangled because that movie is one of my all-time favorites! Did you know that the kingdom in Tangled is called Corona? It’s Spanish for “crown,” so it makes sense, but still- LOL!
After we finished playing two rounds, my friend commented that she someday wants to play Villainous while dressed up in character. I immediately exclaimed, “ME TOO!” because how fun would that be?!
Then she said, “Yeah! It would be so fun to have a group of people all dress up in costume and then play villainous. Like a Halloween party or something!”
She and I then came up with themed snacks that each character could bring and I wrote it all down in a note on my phone so we wouldn’t forget. I also set a reminder to go off on October 1st so I’d remember to text her so we can actually plan this.
I’m an ideas person.
Brainstorming ANYTHING gives me so much energy and excitement.
So, even if October comes around and my friend and I no longer want to plan this party, I don’t view our planning and brainstorming the other day as a waste. It was such a fun thought!
When I reached my apartment that night, a sad and scary thought struck me- What if we’re back in quarantine this fall and we can’t have this party?
And then my mind started spiraling downward and thought about all the other things that would be canceled in the fall if we have to be quarantined again.
My university’s Homecoming. Football games (a HUGE deal in Texas). Pageant. Thanksgiving gatherings. CHRISTMAS?!?
As my mind raced, I realized that really my friend and I shouldn’t be making ANY plans for this fall because who knows what life will be like in 6 months?!?!
…Well, God does…
I think this pandemic and sheltering in place and plans getting canceled this spring have really taught me that only God is in control. God’s plans are the only ones that matter in the end.
“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.
-Proverbs 19:21
This spring has been a humbling reminder that I can try to plan my life all day long, but God has the final say in everything. My planning can only go so far.
He is God and I am not.
“What are your plans after COVID?”
I’m currently hosting my mid-year reader survey. Someone requested I write a blog post about my plans after this pandemic blows over.
I read that question and kinda chuckled thinking, “What plans?”
To be completely honest, ever since planning the Villainous party, I’ve been hesitant to make plans.
And I know that’s silly. And we can’t live life in fear. I can’t just not make any plans for the rest of my life out of worry that the world will shut down again and my plans will get canceled and I will be sad.
The other day, I was talking about this with my counselor. I told her that I feel like I have to hold all my hopes and dreams and plans with open palms with my fingers open, holding on loosely in case God has other ideas.
Holding tightly on to plans only to have them ripped away is not fun.
For example, my boyfriend and I bought tickets earlier this year to go to the Sea World in San Antonio the day before my birthday. He has never been and I haven’t been since I was 14. It was going to be such a fun day trip.
Then March came and everything shut down. April came and everything was still closed. May came, and some businesses here in Texas have been able to open back up, but going to Sea World this coming Saturday is kind of out of the question now.
My birthday plans had to change.
Thankfully, Sea World emailed us and said we can redeem our tickets anytime after they reopen until December 2021. So we’ll go someday. Knowing that made the loss of those plans easier.
I realize I’m extremely blessed that the only major thing I’d been looking forward to this spring was a trip to Sea World.
My boyfriend’s mission trip to New York was canceled.
Two of my friends eloped in December and were going to have a reception in April. That got canceled and became a drive-by celebration.
My best friend is getting married in July and all of this has greatly altered her wedding planning. She’s told me over and over again to be grateful I’m not engaged yet.
I have friends who gave birth right before all this craziness started.
Odds are, you’ve had plans canceled or altered due to the pandemic too.
It’s a strange feeling, having no plans for this summer.
Last year was the first summer in five years that I didn’t nanny for a family during the summer. Instead, I volunteered at a pregnancy resource center at least once a week and sidewalk counseled at a Planned Parenthood every other week.
I loved being involved with these ministries last summer and all year I was looking forward to coming back to it when school let out at the end of May.
Now I don’t even really know what it would look like to volunteer this summer.
“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.”
Let us not forget Proverbs 19:21 during this time.
Our plans might get messed up, but God’s plan always comes through.
Related: Why We Can Trust Our Unknown Futures to God
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