I walked into the living room and stopped dead in my tracks. Apparently my husband and my father-in-law had been busy trying their “Chip and Joanna” decorating skills in my living room while I had been at work. As my husband came around the corner, he paused–looking at me and innocently asked, “What do you think?” As I stood there with my hands on my hips, mouth hanging wide open, remembering how to breathe, I tried desperately to come up with any appropriate response. All that came out of my mouth was “this wasn’t supposed to be my life.”
There was a bear mounted on my wall. A BEAR. Yes, yes, yes–you read that correctly. A bear. Is. Mounted. On. My. Living room. Wall. When I called Erin to tell her, she was imagining a bear skin mounted to the wall. No, no, Erin. This is a fully stuffed, hanging on a tree limb, black bear. Did I mention this is in the living room?!??! Seriously, what had I possibly done to give him ANY indication that this would be an “Emily approved” action? Never, ever, ever did I imagine I would be the woman who has dead animals mounted in her living room. Never.
This was not supposed to be my life.
I wonder if this is how Esther felt about being a Jewish woman taken as a concubine to the King. The Bible tells of a woman who played a dangerous game between a powerful King and her mentor, Mordecai. I bet she was thinking, “This was not supposed to be my life.”
When Saul was removed from a life of taxes and dishonesty…when he was given a new name and occupation, did he think, “This was not supposed to be my life.”?
I wonder if Mary felt complete dismay at being chosen to birth the Savior of the world. Did another Mary feel unworthy of forgiveness after years of prostitution? Did either of them think, “This was not supposed to be my life.”?
When a barren Sarah, brought Hagar to her husband so that they may have offspring, did she look at a child that was not hers and think, “This was not supposed to be my life.”?
One could argue that Jesus was the only human who has ever walked the Earth and was able to say, “This was supposed to be my life.” He was the only one who had ideas, hopes, and dreams that were not altered in any capacity. He had a destiny and He fulfilled each part of it with grace.
Whether living a life that was or was not supposed to be, each of us are living the path God has planned for us. Jesus lived the life God intended and He knew it. The rest of us…well, we are also living the life God intended. We just don’t always know it. Which is why we question and make statements like “this was not supposed to be my life.”
Looking at the bear on my living room wall, I still think about how this was not supposed to be my life. I’m in good company with others who lived a life they didn’t think was supposed to be theirs. Honestly, I’m quiet content with the life I have been given. I’m not fond of the bear on my wall, but it’s part of the life God wants me to live.
~Emily
“And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.”~2 Peter 1:4 (NIV)
Iron Porch 