A Grandson Moment - Questions about God's Plan

A man and his grandson were having lunch in a restaurant.

"How's your BLT? Plenty of bacon?"

"Yeah!"

"My chicken salad sandwich is awesome, if you're interested."

"Hey Grandpa."

"Uh-huh."

"Those people over there are saying grace."

"How do you know?"

"Their heads are bowed and they're holding hands."

"That's nice."

"We never do that in public. Only at home."

"Maybe they feel strongly about their faith. In America you can worship any way you want as long as you don't violate other people's rights."

"I think saying grace is a little weird."

"How come?"

"Dad always asks God to bless the food. Why does he have to ask? Why doesn't God just always do it?"

"You know, Kiddo, that's a good question. But I don't know the answer. You know what my mother would have said?"

"What?"

"She used to say, 'The Lord works in mysterious ways.' If you know what God's plan is, if you can figure out why He does what He does, you're a better man than I am."

"If He has a plan, then why do Mom and Dad pray for him to do things? Do they want Him to change His plan?"

"Man you do have a knack for asking questions. But again, this is one of those questions I don't know the answer to. Maybe part of His plan is to listen to people's prayers and give them consideration. If He can make a plan, He can change it."

"If you don't say grace, and the food never gets blessed, is the food not as good for you?"

"When you figure that one out, let me know."

"I don't like saying grace."

"Why not?"

"Well, I'd rather just eat. And I don't like holding my sister's hand."

"I see."

"It's yucky."

"Hmmm. Hey. Guess what?"

"What?"

"I just had a vision of the future. Your future. Amazing. I saw it plain as day."

"What did you see?"

"I saw you. You were a grown man."

"No way."

"Plain as day. You were getting off a plane. You had bought a plane ticket with your own money. It cost almost a thousand dollars. And once you were in the airport, you saw your sister. She was a grown woman and very happy to see you."

"Ha, Grandpa! No way!"

"Yes, way. She gave you a big hug and you hugged her back. And as you walked down the concourse to get your luggage, you and she held hands. And you loved it. You were thrilled, because you hadn't seen her in a long time."

"You got it wrong, Grandpa. That could never happen."

"I saw it. I guarantee it."

"That could never happen."

"The world is pretty strange and unpredictable, Kenny. We may not know God's plan, but you'd be surprised at the wonderful things that can happen."

Post by Dennis E. Coates, Ph.D., Copyright 2012. Building Personal Strength .