An Interrupted Life

 

Interruptions.

They can throw a monkey wrench into a carefully thought-out plan.

 

They can be a nuisance and downright irritating at times.  

They’re never convenient. They come without warning. But one thing’s for sure, those bothersome hiccups will occur throughout the course of any given day.

Interruptions occur in many forms.

 

Pic courtesy of The Chief Alliance

Mom’s can especially relate. For instance, when you’re on the phone with the repair guy and little Billy loudly clamors for your attention, “Mommy! Mommy! Mommy! I saw a bug!”

Another example, when your boss summons the staff to a spur-of-the-moment meeting and needs that report you’ve been working on – ASAP! 

An interruption can be a crisis.

 

 

Two years ago my husband, Tom, was admitted to the hospital. Unknown to him, he was a walking time-bomb. He was treated for extremely high blood pressure, atrial fibrillation (A-Fib), a blood clot behind his heart, and major artery blockages that required a couple of heart cauterizations and two stints. Thank God, he has since recovered beautifully and leads an active life; but his little interruption certainly gave us a big unexpected scare. (Read more of Tom's little interruption here.)

An interruption can be an opportunity.

 

Hurricane Sandy -- Pic courtesy of United States Adjusters

 

Hurricane Sandy was the deadliest and most destructive hurricane of the 2012 Atlantic hurricane season, as well as the second-costliest hurricane in United States history. It killed 117 people in the U.S. Although it was a horrific tragedy, it was also an opportunity as scores of churches, relief organizations, and people from all walks of life, rallied their support.  

An interruption can be a divine intervention.



Pic Courtesy of Free Bible Images

 

You know that kid in the Bible with the fancy coat whose brothers hated him and sold him as a slave? Well, Joseph’s life was one eventful interruption after another.

Joseph was:

• Cast into a pit
• Sold as a slave
• Falsely accused
• Thrown into jail

 It certainly wasn't God's desire to see him thrown into a pit and sold as a slave, but God used Joseph's series of cruel interruptions to save an entire nation from famine. It also accompanied a beautiful reconciliation between a lost brother and his estranged family.

 ⁴ Joseph said to his brothers, “I am your brother Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. 5 But do not be troubled or angry with yourselves because you sold me here. For God sent me before you to save your life. ⁶ For the land has been without food these two years. And there are five more years without plowing or gathering. ⁷ God sent me before you to make sure that your people will keep living on the earth. Now many of you will be saved.” Genesis 45 (NLV)

An interruption can be a blessing.

 

Pic courtesy of timemanagementninja.com

 

 

I know lots of grandparents.

 

Many recently retired. Planned and saved for years. And looked forward to traveling and enjoying their golden years together.

Then, the detour occurred. It altered their life's' course. It also altered the course of their grandchildren’s lives.

When grandparents take in their grandchildren they are often intervening in a bad situation.

These folks are unsung heroes in my book.
 

If you’re a grandparent selflessly raising your grandchildren, know this: your life has only taken a detour. You’ve not reached a dead end. This may not be the road you envisioned taking at this point in your life, but like Joseph, God had a plan in the midst of it all.

Instead of being frustrated, view interruptions as opportunities to be a blessing.

How was your day?

I'm sure you experienced interruptions. Perhaps the phone rang while you were washing the dishes. Or, a friend stopped by for an impromptu visit.

I want to hear from you. Did God use you to encourage or bless someone today?