Thursday, January 20, 2011

Jan 20-Inspirational thought

"Within each of us lies a wellspring of abundance and the seeds of opportunity. For each of us there is a deeply personal dream waiting to be discovered and fulfilled. When we cherish our dream and then invest love, creative energy, perseverance, and passion into it, we will achieve authentic success. If you could do anything in the world, what would it be? Let your imagination soar, for it is the soul's blueprint of success."

It's so interesting how at different stages in our lives we have various personal dreams about what we ultimately want to be. When I was young, I spent a lot of time playing w/my kitchen set, pretending I was a mom, playing school teacher, secretary, and cleaning/serving food to the farmers at my Granny D's house every summer.etc...Lots of "career" ideas at that time! As I came into about the 6th grade, I remember thinking I might want to be a doctor. By the time I was in H.S., I knew I didn't like science enough for that.  I LOVED my office classes in H.S., particularly the accounting. It seemed logical to me that I would like to be an accountant due to my great affinity for numbers. Only took being in my second college accounting class for me to realize that there was no way I could do that day in/day out.  Solitude-just me and the numbers together all day...can you imagine an extroverted/people oriented person like myself in such an environment? I would have been depressed! It was at that point that I decided perhaps I would like to teach H.S. business classes. I did complete an associate's degree in Business Administration, but decided that I needed to change direction in my life shortly after that.

More recently, I went to college-at night-and received my CDA (child development associate) so that I could retain my position w/HIPPY that I had worked for 3 years. Just last semester, I had the pleasure of taking some culinary classes which gave me some very practical experience in the professional kitchen and was just frankly-fun for me! So, here I sit reading this thought for the morning pondering the question..."if you could do anything, what would it be?"  For me, the answer would be that I have attained my dream and I live it everyday. I have been/am a wife, mother, friend, daughter, sister, Christian sister-I have had the opportunity to improve myself in all of these areas of my life. I have had the time necessary to focus on what really matters to me in this life and prepare for the eternal life ahead of me.  I have spent a lot of time planning parties for my family, friends, brethren-sharing meals and laughter both in my home and through arranged lunch/dinner dates w/all of those I love. I have been able to spend time growing spiritually-spending much time alone w/God, in His word, praying for the needs of those I love, etc... I have been able to cook meals for families in need, drive elderly to the doctor, shop for the elderly, purchase medication for those that couldn't afford it otherwise, etc... I have even had the extra blessings of travel/living in foreign countries.  I have supported my husband in his career by willingly moving to these places-not pouting about being away from family/friends, instead embracing the experience and making it an adventure every time no matter the location.  I even had the blessing of working for HIPPY for 4 years and got paid for it! I have done (and still do) a fair amount of housekeeping/cleaning for others to earn extra funds for my family without interfering w/putting my family first.  I have been able to volunteer and take leadership roles for various organizations/causes that I felt supported my beliefs/value systems at the time and/or benefitted my family. I was a soccer team mom when the girls were little. I took care of scheduling snacks, planning/hosting after season parties, etc... I was co leader of girl scout troop-again, helped plan meetings, organize events, etc... I was available to go on all field trips w/my girls and not miss a moment of their childhood. I served on the PTO board for all of my girls year in elementary and middle school-I helped w/all fundraisers. I was on the board of the Junior Auxiliary here in Cabot where I served as an active member for 3 years. JA helped me to give vital help to children living here in Cabot school district. I was VP of a spouses group in England that involved planning monthly meetings, fundraisers, etc...for the squadron wives. I was head of the PTO hospitality committee in England and I hosted a monthly themed parent/child lunch at the elementary school. I was able to travel to Mexico on a mission trip w/my entire family to help share the love/message of Jesus.  Currently, I am serving as a MOPS mentor-helping guide/direct these young mother's as they are raising their young children as well as support/advise the steering committee as it makes decisions for the monthly group meetings. I have served as a cook at a summer youth bible camp that my girls have attended for the last 3 years. So many blessings, so many opportunities, and all of the pieces of the dream for me have fit so perfectly w/my priorities in life.  I realize that a lot of women do some of the things I listed above and have held down a full time job at the same time.  This is certainly not to criticize or condemn anyone else in their decisions or fulfilling of their own dreams. It is also not meant to brag about myself. It's merely meant to share my own reality of fulfilling my dream. I thank God every day for the blessing of allowance to fulfill my dream each day, through the simple things. It is a blessing that I know others may desire, but have not been able to attain for various reasons. I'm thankful that I have been able to live my dream.  It is not through anything that I've done that has allowed me to fulfill this dream. It is only through God's strength, His blessings/provision, and my relationship w/Him that I have been able to experience living my dream. The change in the direction of my life came when I obeyed Christ. From there, a new dream developed in me and this dream came to me through the knowledge I was gaining in God's word every day.  So, without Jesus, I have no idea what direction my life would be taking today. I do know that without Jesus, nothing I would ever do in this world would have any benefit except for in this life. I desire that my life provide more than physical benefits for myself and those I love-I want it to count for something far greater-eternity.  Eternity is the dream hidden in my heart and it is the reason behind all of the faith moved activities that I have been blessed to engage in that make my dream a reality. Thank you God for talents, gifts, and abilities. Help me to always use them to the best of my ability and at every opportunity so that I may continually bring glory/honor to You. It is my prayer that I may ever live with eternity in my heart so that Heaven becomes my reality when this journey of life is over.

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