His Ways Are Not My Ways, Thank God
Lessons from Ella
I am not a fan of suspense movies. Unless you are a saint, you will not want to sit next to me during this kind of movie. It will go something like this — I will lean over dozens of times during the movie and ask you repeatedly, “Oh my gosh, what do you think is going to happen next? Is that person going to make it? I can’t watch; tell me what happens when this scene finishes!”
I prefer to know what will happen to the characters and how the story will end. That defeats the purpose of watching a suspense movie. Thrillers, not a chance you’ll catch me watching one of those! I am good for a Disney animated princess movie, and that is about it.
Sometimes life itself has a few too many twists and turns for my taste. Perhaps I like predictability and knowing what is coming around the bend. However, that is not life. We can plan and plan all we want, but I don’t think I have ever heard someone say (who has had a bit of life experience) my life turned out exactly how I thought it would.
My journey with Ella did not turn out how I had envisioned. I pictured a very different outcome for this movie. Our journey, almost from the start, was full of unmet expectations, discouragement, hardship, hundreds of hours of dog training, and enough tears to fill at least a bucket or two. It was nothing like I had pictured.
But then God had another plan.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8–9, NIV).
Only the screenwriter knows how the story will end. The viewers must sit back, watch and wait for the plot to unfold. And even then, the story may not end how we would like.
The story of a sweet dog named Ella didn’t end the way I thought it would. It ended better.
And here is why:
I was never alone on this journey. God always sent companions of all sorts to walk alongside, encourage, and instruct. We do have to take notice, or we may miss them.
Growth comes from hardship and failure. Pick yourself up again and again and again.
Perseverance comes from practicing the art of persevering. It is the only way to learn it.
Rushing the process is not wise. You won’t escape the waiting
We can endure more than we think. Hang in there.
Perfection is not a thing. Please don’t waste time looking for it.
It won’t make sense until it makes sense. God will reveal the plan in His time and in His way.
God is always, always, faithful.
Ella is a week from moving to her forever home, which happens to be only 2.7 miles away from me. Her new home is not what I pictured. I thought Ella would end up somewhere in the country, on a farm, with a family and a bunch of animals.
But then God had another plan.
Ella’s new dad is better than I could have ever scripted; of course, he is! I can’t imagine anyone better for Ella than the young man God sent. He is intelligent, a gentle soul, a bit introverted, and highly focused, just like Ella.
Maybe instead of always trying to figure out how the movie ends, I should start learning to sit back, grab a bag of popcorn, and watch God’s faithfulness unfold.
