“There was a Magical Moment…before Worry, before Fear, before Judgement, and we all lived there…for a brief time.”- Zen to Zany
I thought I had it figured out as a young girl. I wanted to be a businesswoman and carry a briefcase because that's what I saw my mom do. I wanted to have a huge home, marry my prince charming in a fairy-tale wedding, have three kids, and live happily ever after. As I got a little older, my goals became a little more complex; I added making the cheerleading squad and dance team, going to college, and wearing all of the latest fashions to my list. Life was much simpler then, and my outlook on what was important in life was vastly different!
At that time, I had very few things to worry about, and I felt that there was no limit to pursuing my ambitions. It wasn't until a little later on when the harsh realities of life began to jade my perspective. I quickly learned that I was not perfect, not all people were nice, disappointments will come, and that life was not always a box of chocolates (as Forrest Gump so eloquently said).
The little girl excitement and optimism that was once present slowly began to change into something more cynical.
What if we allowed that little girl to resurface in our lives again? What if we took the time to re-evaluate dreams that we have cast away and re-assess whether or not they are realistic? What is it that you would pursue if fear hadn't crept in? What goals did you give up on because outsiders and negative self-talk told you that it was not practical? What things did you enjoy doing before the little girl inside you was forced to grow up? Maybe you weren't ever really able to dream and live carefree as a child. It is not too late to discover your inner child. There is still time to explore what makes you happy. There is still hope!
"Know also that wisdom is like honey for you: If you find it, there is a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off." (NIV Bible, Proverbs 24:14)
Now that you are older, you may realize that there is more to life than fairy tales and material things. I never became a cheerleader or went to Julliard to dance as I once dreamed. However, I still enjoy dancing amongst family and friends, and my love for the art of dance has not changed. You may be still waiting on your prince charming and the white picket fence, but there are other things that you can achieve while you wait. God knows what need and can handle in every season of our life.
Having wisdom is a sweet gift, as Proverbs alluded to above. Your current aspirations, crafted by life experience and knowledge, may look different from your dreams when you were young. However, there may still be something that you've always wanted to achieve that you have not yet done. Maybe it's the goal to go to college, start a business, mentor youth, travel abroad, or even do something daring like sky diving.
Listen to the voice inside of you, don't let your hopes and dreams fall short. Don't let fear and circumstance cause you to shrink inside. They say that the sky is the limit; however, remember that there are no limits with God!
Amen!