I have a story to tell.  It may start much like yours, but this is mine.  I was firstborn into a family with two brothers and many aunts, uncles and cousins.  I have lived in Tennessee all my life.  I was born and raised in southeast Tennessee in a very small community.  I knew  from an early age that the small town life was not for me.  To say I was discontent would be an understatement.  My spirit could not wait to get out of the small town I grew up in and get started on the BIG plan God had for my life.  Even as a child I had a God-vision.  I didn’t understand it, but I couldn’t wait to be about it. 

My heart’s desire is to do the will of my Heavenly Father.  To do His will, I had to get to know Him and know what His desire for me was.  I had to learn to let go of fitting in to the world’s view of normal.  Can I tell you this made me an odd teen, an odd daughter and sister and out of place in this world we live in?  I was the fish swimming upstream toward the prize at the base of the waterfall.

As a twelve-year-old, I received the vision that I would live in Middle Tennessee (3 hours from “home”).  God would bring me children to care for and people to love.  My mission in this life is to be Mama T.  God has given me children; Children from infants to 30 year olds with no parents to support them emotionally.  I don’t have to go anywhere to find them, He sends them to me. 

As simple as this sounds, it is truly a miracle.  I would not say I wanted a bunch of kids or a busy house.  I’m a quiet, homebody by nature.  God had a different plan for me and because I wanted what He wanted, my life changed.  I chose to open my heart to serve others, to take care of a mom’s child while she was in rehab, while she found a good job to support her family, while she was in the hospital taking care of her other child, and most recently, the mom died and left five daughters without a mom to teach them basic life skills.   He has even given me “orphaned” senior adults to care for in their last years.  God needed me to be Mama T and love them.  God gave me a mission that was unpopular at home and misunderstood by those around me. 

I have been married to David for 30 years.  We live in Middle Tennessee in a house that God provides.  David works at a job that God provides and I stay home and teach young people how to live God’s way.  I still live an unpopular life where many are concerned. I began the process of finishing my college degree in 2012 at the ripe old age of 49.  I have now finished the degree plan God place me on to be able to minister within my family and to those around me.  Each course in my Christian Counseling degree has helped me with each person placed in my life. 

Colossians 3:23 (NLT) says, “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.”  My focus is on God; my service is to people.  If I never earn another penny while on this earth, my God will have my reward in heaven and that is good enough for me.  My path is laid out before me.  My life verse is Proverbs 3:6 (NKJV), “In all your ways, acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.”

I get to choose which path I am on.  I get to choose Whose path I am on.  I am not always popular and the path gets rocky, but I know Who I belong to.  I choose God.  I choose to be formed in the likeness of Jesus and I choose to love others the way He loves me.  So, “Let Go” and let God work His plan through you, too.