I’ve been jotting down verses and quotes that sort of find me during my days ever since January 1st of this year. Reading through my notebook is making me very happy. I love quotes. I love collecting them. I love looking up where the quote originated from and reading more about the person who said it. It’s becoming a favorite routine of mine. And I’m LEARNing, which is exactly my goal for the year.
I was thinking about my sweet little young adult fiction book the other day and my love for quotes and verses couldn’t be any more obvious in there. Drew speaks only in quotes and cliches and verses. It’s his language. He uses it, especially the Bible verses, to guide Claire to the truth about himself and about God. How I wish I had started this notebook of quotes before I finished The Truth About Drew. So many great quotes and verses that would have worked with the story. But I’m happy with how it turned out and I wouldn’t want to change a thing. I’ll just have to save them for the next book.
This verse, that found me during my morning Bible reading a couple weeks ago, goes perfectly with Goodbye, Magnolia. Maggie thought she had her life all planned out, but it wasn’t God’s plan for her at all. I’ve been in this same situation many times in my life. Plans are made, my heart set on things going one way, and they just don’t. Sometimes things go very far in another direction. But over and over again, I have seen situations work out for the better in ways I never would have imagined. I believe this verse. I believe that the Lord knows every step I take and will take. We can plan all we want, but if we’re trusting God’s guidance and seeking Him in our lives and it’s not His will for us, those plans will change.
And so it is for Maggie, my lovely main character. Her heart was set on marrying, but it was not to be. And that was for the best. I’m getting so excited to share more of the book with you.