You do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? Indeed, it is* a mist that appears for a little while and then disappears. (James 4:14, EHV)
"I didn't sign up for this..." the stepmother of an autistic boy confesses to her therapist. The child had been diagnosed with autism a year before his father and stepmother met. She though she understood what she was committing to when she took on the role of co-parent to this boy. They had opposite temperaments; he was very verbal and high-energy, but she was reserved and preferred a quiet life. Small deviations in his routines set off major meltdowns. She was struggling to manage her own emotions due to the stress of parenting this child; how in the world was she supposed to support him in managing his emotions?
The asterisk in the last sentence of the verse points to a footnote which rephrases the first half, "...You do not know what tomorrow will bring or what kind of life you will have. For you are [a mist that appears for a little while and then disappears]."
If we understood the path our life would take, there is little doubt that many of us would ask for a new roadmap! Perhaps we would level out some of the peaks and valleys of life or spend more seasons of life on a mountaintop. There's no permanent camping there because even the journey on the mountaintop is called a mountain pass. Life is a series of ups and downs, with many upexpected turns and curves in the road. None of us know what tomorrow will bring or what is in store for our lives. We use our best efforts to control the outcomes and direct our steps, but God's Word reminds us, "The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps" (Proverbs 16:9, ESV).
The stepmother of that autistic boy stayed the course, being committed to the Lord and to her vocations of wife and motherhood. The Lord provided support through education assistance,, a county program, and respite from friends at church. The child grew, and with him, the stepmother did, too. When he turned 18 and guardianship came into place, the court-appointed advocate asked him to identify the friend or family member he felt closest to; he identified the one he calls "Mom." Once a stepmom who struggled to cope with his care, she is now his co-guardian who takes an active roll in directing his care.
Recently, his parents celebrated their twelfth wedding anniversay. In refelcting where they have come as a family, they see the hand of the Lord establishing their steps along the way. It's not the kind of life they would have chosen; it's so much sweeter than they could have imagined.
Heavenly Father, you are the one who establishes our steps. Your motivation is love, and we know that you work all things for our good. We know that the path you lead each one of us on is ultimately the path to our eternal home. Thank you for leading with tender care. Your ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:8, 9). We trust you. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.
By Rebeckah Ellinghuysen, MA