Head-Lines

What do you love to do?

If finances were unlimited and failure was unlikely, what would be your dream?

I was watching television after Jim left for work last month. Flipping through the channels, I came across a "reality" type show. The facilitator of a team-building activity asked a small group of participants to answer the above two questions. I thought about them myself and realized... I didn't have a definitive answer. So I listened to everyone else describe their dreams, hoping to get ideas.

One woman wanted to be the first female president of the United States. A man said he'd always wanted to sing in a rock band. Another woman wanted to design her own clothing line. I knew I was in trouble.

Here I was, 48-years-old and I didn't know who I was or what my dreams were. My children were grown and had families of their own, husband was nearing retirement, and I've been out of work over a year with no career prospects. Then I finally admitted I didn't really know what I loved to do.

I didn't have a dream. I'd never taken time to think about or answer those kinds of questions. Instead, I had always tried to be who others wanted or needed me to be. But honestly, I wasn't very good at it. I often had this uneasy feeling in my heart and a sense of just not being happy. And I was a constant candidate for burn out and depression.

I wasn't living out the truth held in the verse - For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb." Psalm 139:13 "...and I was ashamed. I was not designed to be who others expected me to be, or even wanted me to be. I was created to become all that God planned for me to be. But I was lost in the process of my becoming.

After I fumbled around looking for an answer, I decided to pray and read through the Scripture, asking God what His dreams were for my life. I realized the "real me" had gotten buried in the busyness of life and people pleasing.

I also looked up some Christian sites that talked about discovering our passions, gifts and personality traits, I started to identify what I liked. I recognized strengths that came natural for me, and learned what I needed emotionally to encourage my heart.

For the first time, I realized there was an important reason I was who I was — with my passionate preferences and mixed bag of emotions. Instead of wanting to be like women I knew and admired, I sensed God wanted to use the unique way He made me. So I am not soft spoken and gentle like the other elder's wives, but I have a purpose too. I am not thin and fit, but God can use me to reach others and touch lives.

Think about it...Isn't it easy to neglect ourselves to meet the needs of everyone around us, and call it self-sacrifice? It sounds godly. But in doing so we risk shutting down a place in our soul where God's dreams and gifts are waiting to be revealed.

What do I love to do? I love to write, I love to photograph God's creation, I love to create and organize events, I love to find creative ways to bring joy to family and friends.

If finances were unlimited and failure was unlikely, what would be your dream? I would travel to visit missionaries, finding out what their needs are and find ways to meet those needs...I would speak to women's groups and encourage them to find their passions and to be who God created them to be.

So, how well do you know the real you? Have you ever taken time to think about what you like to do? What would make your heart come alive if you had the confidence and resources to do it?

Although it might feel self-seeking, it's actually God-seeking to take time to get to know the woman He created you to be. Remember God had a plan in mind when He made you. When you surrender your unique passions and personality to Him, God will use them to guide you towards His dreams for your life.

Pray what I prayed...Lord, I want to know the woman You had in mind when You created me. I don't want to grow old and never know Your purpose for my life. Show me Your dreams for me so I can offer what You want to give to those around me. In Your precious Son Jesus' name, Amen.