I will be designing a two-page article layout for an LDS magazine. The audience for my story will be directed to adults through the Ensign Magazine, who may have put off personal goals and redirected themselves through prayer and obedience. Below I have shared a personal story of how I let my educational goal idle until it was the right timing, through prayer, for me to pursue it again. Sometimes it is hard in life for us to put aside what we think is personally best compared to what our Heavenly Father knows is best for us. Below is my story and images I would like to use for my design.
Story: Timing
“Mom, could you please take the kids for an hour while I finish up this paper?” Such turmoil over such a simple question. Was I putting my education before my children, was an “A” more important than my child. What kind of mother would do this!
I was a young woman racing for success, driven to earn a college degree, and ready to travel the country. Then I was prompted to put the brakes on and told to get to know this guy better. My race car life would quickly turn into a leisure mini-van with different destinations that put a yield in my perfectly mapped out plan.
God had a plan for me and He still does. I married that man I was supposed to get to know better. I quit that career I thought I was going to take to the top, I had four children and resigned to traveling to Disneyland and educational trips instead of the country. I had always believed in the Plan of Salvation, I mean you hear about it from the day you’re born to the day you die and I am sure they’re hearing about it in heaven right now! What I did not pay attention to was God’s individual plan for me.
Overall the Plan of Salvation is for all of us; much like winning the game would be the ultimate goal for a soccer team. Along the way a coach will have different players execute plays or play special positions to advance them in the game that could possibly lead them to victory. The coach can see the whole playing field and advice players to move this way or that way to defend or offend in the game. I later learned to trust in my Coach, my Heavenly Father.
Shortly after being married and having had two children, I called my mom to see if she could take my daughter so I could finish writing a college paper. This moment became another braking moment. As a mother I felt something just wasn’t right for me to pass my little one-year-old off so I could finish a paper. I began to pray about my educational goal and as a couple we prayed about it. I knew it was time for me to change my plan again. My loving coach moved me to a new position, a position only He knew would advance me to where I needed to go. This was a hard thing for me, and I have to say even though I could logically understand, I still felt a little confused but I was obedient.
Time flew by as if I was driving my race car again, I quickly put my career skills to work as a volunteer at the school, PTA, and coaching. I became involved in everything my children were learning and we traveled where we could enhance their education and family unity. Heavenly Father was right this new position was great. Then the game changed again, my old position was opening up, our youngest child was going to start school.
This would allow me at least six hours a day to myself. My husband and I started looking at all kinds of educational options for me. We prayed, searched, studied, financially mapped out different colleges. My brother told me about a new program the church was doing, the Pathway program. I quickly researched the program, this appeared to be the answer to all our questions. I felt like running and jumping into the crowd. I applied, interviewed and was accepted. This was an answer to my prayer, many prayers. This was my own personal goal and Heavenly Father was blessing me with a way to achieve it.
Heavenly Father could see the whole field for me, He knew when it was time for me to move to a new position and when to get back in the old position. Each semester I see how this plan has helped me to become a better mother and wife. From a major I never planned on taking, to courses I felt prompted to take, courses that have stretched me and taught me things that have helped me strengthen my marriage and family, and all in the right timing, the Lord’s timing.
Heavenly Father has a plan for me and His timing for this plan was what I couldn’t see for myself. Being obedient and having faith in Heavenly Father and His individual plan for me has brought me closer to the gospel and given me a stronger testimony of the Plan of Salvation. I doubt not the Lord, nor his goodness. Don’t just trust in Heavenly Father’s plan, trust in His plan for you and be patient in His timing for your plan.
Sketch:
Images:
Image Sources:
Timing: https://pamross.wordpress.com/2012/09/29/mentoring-moments-the-1-min-blog-timing-is-everything/
Pathway: https://msad54.coursestorm.com/course/career-pathway-orientation1
Pathway Program: https://www.byui.edu/pathway/newsletter-archive/feb-2016/article-growth-series
Rachel Matthews, A Progressing Student 