Expectations are our enemy, flexibility is our friend

In August 2015, I spent 2 amazing weeks in the Dominican Republic. As I was boarding the plane I was expecting the norm. -See a Flight attendant, stare awkwardly at the back of someone's head, smile at strangers, and of course I was expecting the air conditioning to be working. Well, I quickly learned that unfortunately, it was not! Eeek! No Air Conditioning on a plane leaving the Dominican Republic where it was about 90 degrees and no wind!  So I had 2 choices:  1. to be very irritated, thinking about how I would complain and dismiss all the fun I had or 2. To be flexible and be thankful I have a flight home, and thankful that I didn't wear what I had planned, and pray and ask God to be the A/C and be a cool breeze Well praise The Lord I chose option #2 Not that it was comfortable because it wasn't. But there was nothing in my power I could do. So I decided to pray and be thankful. (Might not have been the case a few years ago..because I could become very irritable very quickly...due to me liking to be in control. But this is for another post, for another day) What was unbearable actually became bearable. I was actually able to take a nap. Can you believe that? Wow! I realized complaining & being frustrated was not going to get it cooler any faster.  I'm so glad I didn't focus on how hot it was (and it was) which might have impeded on remembering the amazing experiences I had in the Dominican Republic. (OH YES It Was Hot! I was sweating on that plane. For real!) Like really, I could have spent some much time telling people about how hot it was and not how I got to dance Merengue, Bachata, and do Zumba!! I got to enjoy the beach, meet some amazing people, rest and much more!!  In the midst of that heat and no AC I was grateful for one more thing. I was glad I didn't get my hair done the night before (which was the plan).  During the flight I thought of a quote shared with me, which is the title of this article. The only thing that we can expect is for God to be God always. He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow (Hebrews 13:8). When we have expectations and they aren't met, we get irritated, frustrated, angry and more which shifts our focus from the Lord. ***Hand raised*** I'm Guilty of this. And then on the next flight, I was able to appreciate the AC even more. And yes I did call the airline to report the issue and request some miles, etc. Have you ever said or thought... "I expected that person to be on time" "I expected to be married by now" "I expected to be down 20 pounds by now" "I expected that person to be nice" "I expected that movie to be good" "I expected that it would only take 45 minutes to get my oil changed" "I expected this job to be different " "I expected that person to understand " Flexibility, to me, is like extending grace or receiving God's grace. And I wonder how we could make our unmet expectations into a testimony, growth, or learning opportunity. Now, I'm not saying it's bad to have expectations, but is there flexibility? And what happens if expectations aren't met?? The first thing we want others to give us and the last thing we want to give is GRACE. (Eph 4:7) What if God expected in us what we expect in others and He never extended us grace. YIKES! Just a thought. In what areas do you need to be more flexible? © Dr. Kristen Guillory and Kristenguillory.com, 2020. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Dr. Kristen Guillory and kristenguillory.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.