Random Thoughts on God's Plan/Helping Others

I have said many times that I am a firm believer that everything in life happens for a reason, good or bad, it happened for a purpose. How many times do we go through hard times only to become stronger in the end? As teenagers, how many of us prayed for that first 'love' to work out, only to be heartbroken when it didn't? Even as children, how many times did we run too fast and fall down? All of these things have served a purpose and taught us something. From finding strength, relying on and trusting in God, the true meaning of love and how to recognize it when we see it or merely to slow down, a lesson was learned. Of course, sometimes, the reasons are far less easy to figure out, but I figure in time, everything will make sense...when we're ready to understand. I know it's very cliche, but this is truly how I feel.

When I started writing about Shaun and our journey with Autism, I was mostly doing so for myself, as at the time my blog had no followers except a few family members and friends, as my blog grew and more people started reading, it made me very proud when I would receive e-mails thanking me for my posts. The same goes with a few posts about being a military wife. Again, I was mostly writing for myself, but I'm happy that something I have written has touched someone. Lately, I've been reading many stories myself of people sharing their various struggles in an effort to help others going through the same thing. That got me thinking: is part of the purpose of these hardships for some of us, to share our stories and help others through them? Is that why I have been given the passion for writing? (I am also a firm believer that our talents and passions are meant to serve their purpose as well, but that's a completely separate topic!) Am I supposed to share my struggles in an attempt to help others? Writing about Autism and military life is easy, I'm a very private person, but to me, these things just are and they really aren't anything that seem private to me. Personal, perhaps. Private, not so much. Other struggles from the past are much more difficult, and not something I am comfortable sharing here or even one on one for the most part. Without going into much detail, I have been dealing with this situation recently, where an acquaintance is going through something similar and I cannot help but be torn as to sharing my story with that person and in the end, it's just not something I can do...Maybe this makes no sense and I'm over-thinking everything, as I have a tendency to do (especially with as little sleep as I've had). Perhaps we're not always meant to share, but to just be understanding and nonjudgmental. In the end, I suppose all we can really do is pray about it and know that only God knows his own plan.

I am very interested in everyone's personal thoughts on the subject as well, so please feel free to leave comments.

“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.” Jeremiah 29:11

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6

“A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.” Proverbs 16:9