One never knows what awaits around the corner.  Charles Dickens titled one of his novels Great Expectations.  Do you have great expectations?  What are your prospects?

That reminds me of a brief story by Jack London in his book Burning Daylight.  London told of a wedding in western North Carolina where a fight broke out between the attending families.  After the gunfire ended and the smoke lifted, the groom was dead, the bride’s father was dead, and several uncles and cousins were among the deceased.  As the young widow surveyed the scene she was heard to say, “Those new-fangled self-cocking revolvers sure played hell with my prospects.”

Do not be too certain that your great expectations will be fulfilled.  A lot can happen between now and that trip to the bank. 

In 1860 my great-grandfather Elijah Jordan appeared to be sitting pretty.  He had more than 400 acres of good farmland valued at approximately 20,000 dollars.  His personal wealth was estimated to be 32,790 dollars.  He was not fabulously wealthy, but those dollar amounts were impressive for those times.  Ten years later his remaining farmland was valued at $6,000 and his personal wealth at $500.  Somehow the Civil War had gotten in the way of his expectations.

One never knows what the future will bring.  Be thankful for your present blessings, and be prepared for the possibility (even the likelihood) of future troubles.  In all circumstances, Praise the Lord!  

And what does the Bible say?

“The land of a rich man was very productive.  And he began reasoning to himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?’ Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, ‘Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?’  So is the man who stores up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

It is good to plan for the future, but as you make your plans be sure to take time to smell the roses.  Be thankful for your blessings.  Love God, love your fellow man, and at the end of it all your prospects will surely be bright.