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Jan 4, 2017
Catholic Influencers· Faith· Life

This Year, I’m Planning on Making God Laugh!

Last year I came across the practice of choosing a word to be a “theme” for the year.  It was the first I had heard of this idea . . . and this year, I’m jumping on the bandwagon.  I’m choosing a word . . . and hoping that it brings me success, productivity and helps me be a better version of myself.  The word I am choosing is . .

Plan.

planone.jpg

However, one of the first quotes that came to mind when I picked this word was:

If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans.

Woody Allen

I don’t know much about Woody Allen.  One thing I do know is that a long time ago I went to see one of his movies and I remember thinking – and you can quote me on this – “this is the worst movie I have ever seen in my entire life; watching this is torture“.  I wish I could remember the name of the film, but I must have blocked it out.  If you are a Woody Allen fan, perhaps you know something I do not.  However, I do love this quote attributed to him: “If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans“.

My goal this year is to be a better planner. I need to plan better in every life category – so I’m giving God plenty of material to work with!

plan.jpg

 I’m going to plan more educational activities for my son and I to enjoy at home.

I’m going to plan my days better and hopefully get more house work done.

I’m going to develop a better writing and working plan . . . and I am going to create new plans to meet new (and old goals).

I’m also planning on writing a list of other things I need to plan better.

Will everything go as planned?  Of course not!  Will God laugh?  I hope so – I love to laugh, I imagine He loves it too!

Hey, maybe God will send us a newborn . . . that will certainly challenge a lot of plans!  But at the same time, we have been planning on adding to the family – so we shall see!

However, just because everything will not go as planned, that certainly isn’t a good reason not to plan!

One of the most practical skills I learned in college was how to write a lesson plan.

I was a Psychology major. I learned a lot of wonderful lessons at my liberal arts school – but, most I felt, I could not bring directly into the job market.

As a teacher, a good plan allowed me to have better classroom management, create a positive atmosphere and permitted me to enjoy my role as an educator.

Walking into school without a plan made the day feel longer, had me feeling more anxious and didn’t exactly excite anyone about learning that day.

A good plan can make a huge difference in a day, a week, a month and so on.  Or, as the writer H. Stanely Judd put it so much better:

A good plan is like a road map: it shows the final destination and usually the best way to get there.

Ultimately, I hope my final destination is heaven.  About a year ago I started praying, “God, help me be who you want me to be and set the world on fire“.  I prayed that over and over again.  That prayer, I believe, has brought me so many blessings, so much excitement and so much joy.  I firmly believe I am exactly where God wants me.

But, where do I go from here?

planwhere.jpg

I need the map.  I need direction.  I need some sort of plan.

And honestly, as my son’s first teacher, he needs me to have a plan.

I am so happy and grateful that God creates all of us to love and serve Him in a unique way. I’m excited to serve Him in the way He has planned for me!  I hope and pray the goals I set and the ways I choose to attain them are guided by the Holy Spirit.

And if on the way to attain them I make God laugh . . . awesome!

Do you pick a word for the year?  If you had to pick one, what word would you choose?

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Comments

  1. Alicia says

    January 5, 2017 at 12:10 am

    “this is the worst movie I have ever seen in my entire life; watching this is torture“. —-> Too funny! Not my cup of tea either. 🙂

    I haven’t picked a “word of the year,” but I’m thinking about choosing “joy” this year. For Write31Days I chose the theme of “happiness,” and it really challenged me. I look forward to hearing how “plan” plays a role in your year this year!

    • Amy says

      January 5, 2017 at 7:10 am

      I was hoping that made someone laugh haha!! I love that you chose happiness as a word and it seemed to be a good experience! Yes, choose joy! What a wonderful idea!!

  2. Kerry says

    January 5, 2017 at 9:52 am

    My plans never work out, but I spend time making them anyway. A girl can dream! My word for this year is “fidelity”. I want my life to more truly reflect my beliefs.

    • Amy says

      January 5, 2017 at 10:44 am

      A girl can dream – Amen to that! Love your word – fidelity! Such a strong word and strong characteristic to have!

  3. A Beautiful Camouflaged Mess says

    January 5, 2017 at 10:19 am

    Love this outlook!!

    And, be careful how you plan – you may be surprised at His monkey wrenches! I was “planning” on searching for a job when my husband came from deployment; instead, our “Deployment Baby” turns one next week! Hahahaha – He has a funny sense of humor… 😀

    • Amy says

      January 5, 2017 at 10:45 am

      Haha – happy birthday deployment baby 🙂

  4. Margaret says

    January 5, 2017 at 6:53 pm

    I have seen this before but thought it might be like making a new year resolution. I didn’t try it then but should give it a try this year. My word would probably be “prayer”. I really need to improve my prayer life.

    • Amy says

      January 5, 2017 at 7:55 pm

      Prayer is a beautiful word to have for the year!!!

  5. Sara says

    January 5, 2017 at 7:52 pm

    “I’m also planning on writing a list of other things I need to plan better.” Dying over here! I LOVE planning, this post is for me. Except… maybe I should work on being ok with NOT planning… I’m not good at that. Try and change my plans last minute, and I turn into a monster!

    • Amy says

      January 5, 2017 at 8:04 pm

      It can be frustrating when the plan was so good – and gets turned upside down! For example, when you plan to get so much stuff done tomorrow while your child is at school – and then you hear it may snow and he may not have school! Ahhh!

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