for 'planner' people like me

cousin almi sent this piece to our yahoogroups the other day. i just read it this evening and realized that it really speaks to me :p i am a 'planner' person, myself.. hehe. as almost all my friends can attest to, i never leave the house without my trusty planner (i have two, actually - a small black one that fits in my bag.. and my starbucks planner that doubles as a coded diary of sorts, hehe).

this article reminded me that there are just some things in life that you never plan for.. never expect.. yet they happen. and it's good to know that no matter how many surprises turn up in life, the Great Planner will always be there. He knows what's best for us :) read on..

The best gift anyone can give me at Christmas is a planner. I like
planners because I am a planner. I like thinking ahead. I like being
prepared. I get a high from being on top of things. But some things
are beyond planning. And life doesn't always turn out as planned.

You don't plan for a broken heart. You don't plan for a failed
business venture. You don't plan for an adulterous husband. You
don't plan for an autistic child. You don't plan for spinsterhood.
You don't plan for a lump in your breast.

You plan to be young forever. You plan to climb the corporate
ladder. You plan to be rich and powerful. You plan to be acclaimed
and successful. You plan to conquer the universe. You plan to fall
in love - and be loved forever.

You don't plan to be sad. You don't plan to be hurt. You don't
plan to be broke. You don't plan to be betrayed. You don't plan to
be alone in this world

You plan to be happy. You don't plan to be shattered.

Sometimes if you work hard enough, you can get what you want.
But most times, what you want and what you get are two different
things.

We, mortals,plan. But so does God in the heavens.

Sometimes, it is difficult to understand God's plans -
especially when His plans are not in consonance with ours. Often,
when God sends us crisis, we turn to Him in anger. True, we cannot
choose the cross that God wishes us to carry but we can carry that
cross with courage knowing that God will never abandon us nor send
something we cannot cope with.

Sometimes , God breaks our spirit to save our soul. Sometimes,
He breaks our heart to make us whole. Sometimes, God sends us pain
so we can be stronger. Sometimes, God sends us failure so we can be
humble.

Sometimes God sends us illness so we can take better care of
ourselves. Sometimes, God takes everything away from us so we can
learn the value of everything He gave us.

Make plans but understand that we live by God's grace.

Growing up we get dismayed by the realization that we could not
get everything we want. Growing old, I am delighted by the
realization that although I can't have everything I want, I can want
everything I have.