God has a plan - with Renee

written by Rebecca Holsapple

It was Monday evening and this was going to be the best week of the whole school year. Renee was so excited. She was walking home from the bus stop, the sun was shining and reflecting off her beautiful auburn hair. She inhaled deeply to  smell the fragrance of flowers and freshly mowed grass in the air.

There were only a few more weeks of school, and then it would be the long awaited summer break. She started skipping along with joy thinking of her busy but 'oh so awesome' schedule this week. Her older sister, Addison was way ahead of her, she had decided to run home and tell her mom and dad the good news first. Renee didn't mind if she didn't get to tell them first she was just glad it was happening.

She made it to the door a couple minutes after Addison and she could hear her mom and dad laughing and congratulating her. Renee walked in " Hey sweetie!! We heard you got second place in the whole school! That's wonderful! said Dad. " Renee's face beamed with pride. "I know!! I couldn't believe it! All my training really paid off. Addison was way ahead of me, though, running is what she born to do!" Addison smiled " I do love it, but I was sooo proud to see you cross the light right after me, nothing could have made me happier!"

The girls had both signed up at the beginning of the school year to participate in a state wide race. The top 3 racers of every school in the state would be there. That very morning had been the official try-outs and the girls had come first and second, Carl the tallest boy in school at come in third.

"This will be the best week ever! This amazing event tomorrow and then our class trip to Chicago with all the 5th and 6th grader on Friday!" Renee could barely hold in her excitement.

"Speaking of which, said mom, make sure you lay out the clothes you want to bring so I can get our bags ready on Thursday. I have to admit I am looking forward to this little get-away with my girls"

"I know you will all have a wonderful time, I wish I could come but I promised to hold down the fort at the gym since no one else is available." said dad.

Addison and Renee went and hugged their dad telling him that they would miss him. But neither could be too sad about dad not coming since they were so ecstatic about everything else.

The family enjoyed dinner and the evening together. Renee had a hard time falling asleep that night, but she knew she needed her rest to run the best that she could the next day.

The sun coming through the curtains woke Renee up, she looked over at the alarm clock' it was barely 6:00, she didn't have to be up for another hour. She decided to get ready anyway, today was the big day!

After putting on her skort and her favorite t-shirt, she did her hair in a pony tail to keep it out of her face. She ran to kitchen and decided to make everybody a very healthy breakfast to have lots of energy. Mom and Dad were both coming to see the race, it was 2 hours away so the girls didn't have to go to school at all today!

She had set the table, she had made eggs, whole wheat toasts and oatmeal for everybody. She had even brewed some fresh coffee for her parents. Everybody woke up from the smell.

"Oh my! Renee! What a wonderful cook you are becoming! This is delicious" said mom after a couple bites. They had all prayed together for a wonderful day, a great race -whether the girls won or lost- and they thanked the Lord for the opportunity to spend a weekday as a family.

They all got in the car shortly and sang along with a worship CD all the way. As they got closer the girls got more antsy and ready to run. When they found a parking spot and turned off the car, dad suggested they pray one more time.

"Lord we are so thankful to be here today, so thankful for our healthy athletic daughters, we pray that you be with them during the race and that you help them do the very best that they are capable of. Lord help us to accept whatever the outcome may be knowing that you are in control of our lives and know what's best for all of us. We thankful and ask these things in Jesus name, Amen."

"I bet you will win Addison, I can't imagine anyone running as fast as you!" Renee said with a smile.

"I can't say that I don't hope so, but I haven't seen the competition yet." said Addison.

The girls walked into the track field and went to find their gym teacher, he told them to take their position, Addison would be competing against the 6th graders first, and Renee against the 5th graders, then they would rank both grades and they would run against who ever ranked top 3 and so forth and so on. There would ultimatly be a top 3 for all of elementary in the state.

The girls each went their way. There was a teacher designated to each area that was making all the students do some stretches.

"We don't want any injuries here today. We have some every year, it can't be helped, but let's not make it because we didn't get good and stretched before we ran!"

Renee did all her stretches and when it was her turn she got in position she ran as fast as she could and came in third place in the first race. That qualified her for a race against some more fifth graders. Once again she went to the new location, did some more stretching and go ready to run. "On your mark, get set, GO!"

Renee was running between her lines as fast as she could manage just like last time. All of a sudden she felt something hit the back of her calf and next thing she knew she was laying on the ground, her leg in more pain then she had ever felt. She was left behind as everybody finished the race. The teacher and her mom who had been watching her compete were beside her shortly.

"Where do it hurt?" asked the teacher.

"Right here" Renee could barely talk it hurt so much. Tears were running down her face.

"This does not look good, I'm afraid she will need to be seen by a doctor.” the teacher was talking to her mom,” I think it would be best to call for an ambulance, if I am correct it’s a break."

Renee started really sobbing then, from the pain but also from the idea of breaking her leg, today of all days, this week of all weeks.

The rest of the afternoon was a bit of blur, but she fell asleep in the car on the way home with her leg in a big pink cast propped on her parent’s arm rest. She didn't wake up until the next day to remember that her leg was broken.

“Hey sweetie! How are you this morning?” mom peaked into her room.

Tears started streaming down her face, she just couldn't help it. “Not so good.”said Renee. “It hurts.”

“I’m so sorry honey, here is some medicine, you were really out for a long time, it’s 11:00 ” mom hesitated but then decided this was a good as time as any to tell her. “I talked to your teacher today, and well I hate to tell you this but there isn't room in the van for your wheelchair or for you to sit comfortably and since it’s such a fresh injury, we agreed it’s best if you stay home on Friday.”

“Oh mom!!!! Really?” Renee couldn't say anything else, she was devastated, she cried while her mom held her for a bit then fell back asleep.

She was only awake for a bit to eat and to find out that Addison had won a trophy for 2nd place in the state as well as several medals from all the races she participated in.

“ I didn't tell you when we came to the hospital, you were kind of drugged.”Addison said.

“I understand, I am really happy for you Addison, I knew you would be the best!” Renee was genuinely happy for her sister even though she was feeling sorry for herself.

By Friday, even though she had slept a lot,Renee had figured out how to get around with her wheelchair, mom and Addison had left for the field trip  and she had to go to the gym with dad.

“Set up right here, by the front desk, honey, I’ll be here most of the time, that way we can hang out.” dad went to unlock all the door and make sure all the equipment was ready for the day.

“ OK... “ Renee was upset. She had been upset since the incident, but today she was even more so.
She sat and read a book for a while then some client started coming in and asking what happened, she just wanted to run away and hide, but she couldn't.

After a couple more hours of it Renee couldn't take it anymore. “Dad  I’m going to go to the back room.” Renee was clearly upset now, no one could have missed it, even her dad who didn't always pick up on her moods very quickly.

“Are you sure? There is nothing back there.” said dad.

“Yes, at least I won’t have to deal with being reminded of how terrible my life is all day!”

“What on earth...” Dad had not seen that coming, he knew she was not happy about missing the class trip but he didn't think it was this bad.

“You now what, I am going to close early, we can go home. One of the perks of owning this place... I didn't realize how this was affecting you."

A short while later Renee and her dad were sitting in the living room at home.

“So what’s going on in your mind” asked Dad.

“ I think that ... I don’t know... I just really wanted to run, and I really wanted to go to Chicago and both those things, I have been planning on for a long time. I trained for the competition for months and I did fundraisers for the trips. I don’t understand why God would let this happen.” She pointed to her cast.

Dad picked up the Bible from the coffee table and quietly turned to Jeremiah 29 :11. “Here read this.” he said as he handed the book to Renee.

“ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

“This verse, has gotten me through a lot, said dad.”

“Think of your life , as a mosaic, made of thousands of little pieces, events. We don’t see the big picture, we don’t understand why some things happen. But God has a grand plan. He knows what it’s going to look like in the end. He made the entire universe, he made us, the way everything works together in harmony , the way our body works is a wonder in itself. There is a grand order to all things, and only God knows it. We just need to trust that there is a reason for everything that happens. We need to keep our hearts soft and follow where he leads.”

“A mosaic...wow! I had never thought of it that way...” Renee was listening to her dad very intently.

“Some things have happened in my life that I didn't understand, and sometimes, like you, I got upset. But looking back I can see what God was doing, sometimes to teach me a lesson, sometimes to mold my character, sometimes to keep me from danger and there are still many things I don't understand, but God has given me peace over those and I put all my trust in Him.”

“What you’re saying is, even though this is not fun, God has a plan from this broken leg?” Renee’s eyes were big.

“Exactly!” dad smiles and went to give his daughter a hug.

“Thanks for talking to me dad, I needed it. I understand now.” Renee felt more peace then she had in days.

“Want some food? I’m starving!” asked dad.

“Sure” said Renee with a big smile.

The End