Hanging On To My Lifeline

     We had  barely been home fifteen minutes when the phone rang. It was our neighbor from out back, an older gentleman who has come to church with us a quite a few times. He did not sound like his usual cheery self when I answered so immediately I knew something was not right. He told me he was stuck on his deck, not fallen, but due to his Parkinson's disease he was sitting on the doorstep, stuck in the doorway and his legs would not move. I called my two teen boys upstairs and sent them out to help our neighbor into the house. It took the two of them to lift him up and carry him into the house, and then drag him down the hallway to his room. His legs refused to move so he could not help them in any way to get him up. It was completely up to their strength. I am glad they are so strong, and it did my heart good to see how concerned they were for him. They were so willing and eager to help him into the house. It was a pretty cold evening and it would not have done him any good to stay halfway in the door way letting all their warm air escape their house. 
     The next day Joe called him to make sure he was okay and though he had not gone out to make his usual Saturday morning visits to friends, he was able to move around again. I sent over a nice hot supper for him, in hopes that it would help strengthen and refresh his energy. His need for help was obvious, and I am glad we were around to assist him during his time of need. 
     I got to thinking about my neighbor today and realized that I am not that much different than him. True, I am not battling Parkinson's disease, and my legs work perfectly well, but when it comes to needing Someone's help, I am in the same boat as he is. I am looking at the week ahead of me, knowing that we have five more days until the big play program, and I am feeling like I am stuck in the doorway, unable to move. I know God has a purpose and a plan. He has everything under His control, but I feel like I am hanging onto God's lifeline. There have been times when the panic came flooding in, and I began to question everything I was even doing. Mrs. Nill has been a wonderful encouragement to me, reminding me that every year we go through tough times during play practice, wondering if the children will be ready; wondering if we will have everything we need for the big night, yet God has always come through. He has provided extra costumes when we were sure we were short one. He has shown us different ways of doing things that will work better, and helped us adjust lines and speaking parts.  I am praying that all the children will be healthy and ready for their lines with God's help. I am praying that it will be a blessing and that all the ones coming to see it will be encouraged. There are so many little things I am praying about, but God keeps reminding me that since I put it into His hands from the very beginning, then He is going to work out every single detail. One of the songs in the play is called, "Better Than My Best." The young teacher, called by God to go into the Community to teach and spread the Gospel, sings these words, "Open doors You want me to go through; I know Your plan, Lord, is better than my best." I am going to hang onto the very words that God gave me for that song and trust Him. I am going to believe that His plan for me is better than my best laid out plans. He is my lifeline and He is my strength. Amen.