Never Say Never!

Don’t tell me God doesn’t have a sense of humor!

The year after reconnecting with God as a 16 year old He began to open doors for me to minister to children. I was ecstatic. If I could reach even one child, teach him or her the ways of God, and save them from the morass of doubt I had waded in, my ministry to children, whatever the cost, would have been worth it.

Decades passed, wonderful decades of ministering to God’s precious lambs. Sometimes it was a handful of children, sometimes it was a couple of hundred, but always, always I served with a grateful heart—though every now and then the thought would come, “I am so blessed not to have to 'do' the babies and toddlers! I am so glad God has provided teachers willing to serve those age groups!” Translation: I am so glad not to have diaper duty! Ha! When it comes to God’s plans for your life, never say never!

A few years down the road found me back in the states, serving in a church where, for the first time in more years than I care to remember, I was not the head honcho of the children’s ministry, just a plain ol’ grunt. And what a grunt—I finally got toddler/diaper duty!

I could almost hear Jesus’ peals of laughter. I’d gotten a position I had never wanted! But you know, Jesus might have been tickled at the irony, but His plan for my path—as will always be for yours, too—was not without glory and purpose. I might not have coveted a position that included diaper duty, but, as it worked out, for four glorious years I had my beloved granddaughter under my wing. To teach your own sweet granddaughter the things of God! It doesn’t get any better than that!

Thank you, Jesus, for giving me what I didn’t want—because You knew that in so doing You’d be giving me one of the greatest blessings of my life!

Be encouraged, dear friend. The path around the bend might not be what you would have chosen, but if your boat companion is Jesus, it will be quite the ride—diapers or no diapers!

“But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive” (Genesis 15:20).

“You have turned my mourning into dancing for me; You have taken off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,That my soul may sing praise to You and not be silent.O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever” (Psalm 30:11-12).