Testimony of Faith

I was blessed to be visiting my two oldest at the University of Mary this past weekend. Such a bitter sweet trip, only because of the goodbyes that had to come Sunday evening (I miss them so very much.) I am so proud of both of them. They both work so hard to better themselves in every way. Not only are they making far better choices than I did, they also have surrounded themselves with incredible friends. I have had many conversations with different friends, but there is one in particular that was such a testimony to me of faith in God's plan, that I feel the need to share it.

This young lady was simply telling me about her studies. How she began school studying one thing but ended up switching to something very different. You know, the story of probably 80% of college graduates (this is not an actual statistic.) What made this conversation so different was the WAY she talked about it. She was saying things like "God's plan", "bringing it to prayer", "serving people" with the same ease as most people breathe. Her testimony of faith was truly inspirational for me. This young woman was less than half my age and understood so well that trusting in God's plan is how she would live a life of purpose and fulfillment. She talked about how it was a leap of faith for her to switch from what she had always thought she would study, and how it really tested her and stretched her. But she followed that with how amazing it was that once she took that leap of faith, God continued to put other opportunities and situations in her life that she would have never expected. Just Incredible.

We talked of our plan vs God's plan. I shared with her how through the years I have a great track record of planning things out myself and how all of those plans typically ended in some sort of dumpster fire. On the flip side, when I have surrendered and trusted in God's plan , everything comes together in such an incredible way. Exactly the same thing she was telling me about with her own experience, but she figured it out several decades before I did.

What an amazing place to be in life - where my daughters and their friends are an example for me. Where my faith can be inspired by someone much younger. How a conversation with one young woman surrendering to God's plan for her life reminded me to surrender to Him in mine. What a gift for all of us! I thank God for all of the young people who are opening their hearts to Him and asking Him to guide them in their choices. The Church truly is alive and well in our young people, and I am excited to see what incredible things they will do!