What is flexibility?

What does it mean to be flexible?

Adjusting the time of a meal so that the whole family can be present?
Stopping your work to help another person with theirs or to fill a request from your boss?
Giving way at an intersection so another vehicle can move?

What about changing your plans for the family 4-5 times in a space of 5 months? Not just where you would vacation, but travel, work and living arrangements? There is a family here who have 3 children of their own, are adopting another and are guardians of a 5th. They thought, a while back, that they would return to their home country and each find work there. Then the legal process for the kids hit a snag, so they then decided to stay on, even up to a year, till it all got resolved. A few weeks later, the way cleared again for returning and the job here became very difficult.

One parent went home for a short break and to be with aging parents. The day of arrival, a job advert jumped at them, a call was made and interview held. Now a new job, with good benefits became available in August. Upon return to Uganda, the family decided that they could leave 1 June, wrapping up the loose ends with work here.

Shortly afterward, they learned the process of getting visas for the two Ugandan children was going to take more time than planned, so now the departure date is the end of July, God willing.

This family has lived through all the changes, uncertainties and drama that is common to missionary families. "One day a time" is wisdom. Leaning on the Lord for everything, in all circumstances is great wisdom.

No amount of worry, planning or support from others makes much difference in the actual course of events. I know I like to believe that all my planning, preparation, etc. will make things go smoothly. When it doesn't work out that way, I try to see what I could have done differently. But at the end of the day, trusting God to be in control, make things come out His way is the best stress reducer there is.

Flexibility is something I am learning here and seeing in the lives of others.