Noel PIper is a wife, mother of 5, grandmother, world Christian, reader, author and speaker who finds great pleasure in seeing God’s hand at work close to home and far away. She blogs also at her Noel Piper website .
I longed to travel even before I knew I love to travel.
When I was 18, I stood in my dorm room and declared, “I’m not going to get married till 3 or 4 years after I graduate, so I can see the world first . . . .”
Prophetic? Just the opposite.
Within months, I met Johnny and that turned my life upside down. I finished college 3 or 4 weeks after we were married. So much for seeing the the world (at least according to those freshman assumptions about nothing much happening after the wedding). But I didn’t care, because Johnny was way more important.
What I should have said was, “I’m going to get married so I can see the world.” I had no idea that it was through our marriage God would open the world for me. Less than 3 years after our wedding, we were on a plane to Munich, where we lived for 3 years. That was just the beginning. More than 40 years later, I’d have to work my brain too hard to try to remember how many cities, states, countries I’ve visited.
So, prophetic? No. And to further confirm my nonprophetic gifts, the rest of that 18-year-old’s pronouncement was, ” . . . And I’ll never marry a preacher.”
Thank God, his plans are way better than mine.
When Henry purchased a home for us a few weeks before our wedding, I told him that I wanted to live in that house my whole life and die in my bed with my children and grandchildren around my bed. And I was NOT marrying a preacher, because I knew they move! YES, God’s plans for my live were far better, and I am sure his plans for my death are better too! (Or maybe JESUS will come before I die!)
I really loved reading this section! I laughed when I read it because I to made that same proclamation numerous times to both family and friends. However my desire wasn’t for travel, but was rather for independence! Now a year later, I write you, a married woman of 4 months; and loving every minute of it! God’s gift of Trey, and moving to L’ville, for Seminary, is definitely not what I had in mind, or what I would have thought to be “good” but i now see that He knows what is BEST for me; when I am blinded by my own selfish ambitions! Isn’t God good to us! Thankful for His provision, in my life — and yours. You’re an encouragement, I love reading your thoughts.. Truly a blessing and taking part in fulfilling Titus 2.3,4 in my own life.