How an unexpected change of plans became an invitation to discover God's peace and providence
Vacation Plans: Ours and God’s
Monday, July 20, 2026
*Dolores Hanley McDiarmid
It’s vacation time, an opportunity to break away from the fast-paced world of our daily routines. It is a chance to slow down and refresh ourselves mentally, physically, and spiritually.
However, slowing down during a vacation can be a challenge. There are so many things we want to do, places to go, and people to see. This proved to be the case for my husband and me last month when planning our annual trip to France. We planned to travel by train to see several friends in various parts of France, which gave us a total of five legs for our vacation.
We were enjoying the first two legs of the trip. Then we discovered that, with the high price of gas, more people were using the trains, making it a challenge to get the train tickets we needed. It became complicated and stressful.
When it was time to travel the third leg of the trip, I pointed out to my husband that if we followed through with what we had planned, we would need a vacation after our vacation. Our plans would defeat the purpose of a vacation: to be rejuvenated.
Making the decision to bypass the third leg of the trip was a disappointment for us as well as for our dear friend living in southern France. However, upon deeper reflection, it was more important to follow where God’s peace was guiding us.
Proverbs 16:9 says, “In their minds humans plan their course, but the Lord directs their steps.” This is exactly what was happening to us as we struggled with this decision. We would forget about going to southern France.
Instead, we would take the train to Tours, rent a car, and drive to our French friends’ country house to spend more days there than we originally planned. Being there has always felt like a little piece of heaven on earth, and that is what a real vacation is!
Mark 6:31 sums it up: “Come with Me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” That is exactly what we did! We followed the promptings to go into the country, not knowing at the time what God had planned for us.
As soon as we arrived at the country house, we drove to the next town south of us to buy provisions. It was also an opportunity for me to make my annual visit to St. Pierre Catholic Church to visit Jesus in the Tabernacle, a tradition I have kept for more than twenty years.
Sadly, the door was locked, but there was a sign indicating that there would be a First Communion Mass on Saturday evening, which would also celebrate the Feast of Corpus Christi.
Attending this Mass honoring Corpus Christi, with adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and a special blessing from the pastor for my husband and me, was one of the highlights of my time in France.
It was a sign of hope to see this lovely young girl, six or seven years of age, receive our Lord for the first time and to hear her read the beautiful prayer she wrote to Jesus for the congregation of about forty people. Her prayer can be adapted for each one of us to read before receiving the Eucharist.
The translated prayer reads: “Lord Jesus, I am preparing my child’s heart to welcome you. Thank you for this great day of my First Communion.
Come and fill my life with your love and your grace. Bless my family, my friends, and my community.
Protect us and keep us close to you. You call me to be a child at heart. Help me to serve you with joy and respect.
Make my life bear beautiful fruit for you. I love you, Jesus. Stay with me always. Amen.”
It was following this experience that I realized why we were inspired to change our travel plans. Had we gone to southern France as planned, we would have missed this holy and special Mass on the Feast of Corpus Christi, and I would not have had this beautiful prayer to share with you.
I have shared this personal story with you because you may be in the planning stages of your own vacation. As you enjoy your vacation plans, consider making room for the whispers of God’s voice that may be guiding you to something better than what you have planned.
Bon voyage!
