Samantha pre-school graduation
At the pre-school graduation ceremony the teacher asked each child to announce what they wanted to be when they grew up. Many of the children wanted to be doctors, lawyers, scientists, teachers, policemen, and firemen. When my granddaughter, Sammy, stepped forward she said that she wanted to be a "surfer girl." "Wow!" I thought. "That is really my granddaughter. All I ever wanted to be was somebody who had fun. She is just like me!"
It wasn't until I was about to graduate college that I realized I needed a job to support myself. I considered moving to Korea and working as a "Gray Lady,"(The Gray Ladies were American Red Cross volunteers who worked in American hospitals, other health-care facilities, and private homes, notably during World War II. They provided friendly, personal, non-medical services to sick, injured or disabled patients.)
Another idea I had was to move to New York City and to try out for the Rockettes. (The Rockettes are an American precision dance company. Founded in 1925 in St. Louis, they have performed at Radio City Music Hall in Manhattan, New York City, since 1932. Until 2015 they also had a touring company. ) Unfortunately I was an inch too short. I was almost 5'5" but 5'6" was the minimum height requirement.
It was at that point I started talking to a fellow student who was one of the EWU newspaper and yearbook photographers about taking portfolio pictures of me that would make me look taller. He did photograph me several times. We began talking about his dreams--to sail in the ocean. I thought that sounded like fun. One thing led to another and we ended up getting married that August after we had both received our Bachelors degrees.
Our first born, Heather, always wanted to be whatever her daddy was. When he was a photojournalist she wanted to become one. When he worked in high tech she followed in his footsteps. Our son, Jes, on the other had was like me--he had interests but none that really seemed like viable vocations. He was interested in playing the drum and specifically playing music from around the world, but the lifestyle of a musician is never something he entertained. His grandfather, who had been a professional musician, urged him not to be a musician, but he already didn’t see the benefit of it. He enjoyed working on bicycles, but not enough to do it for a job (also a hard vocation if you want to make a living). There was nothing really where he felt settled. After working on a number of tech contracts and moving to an area where those are few and far between he needed to reinvent himself.
So I tell him and others the story of how my mom wanted to be a nurse, teacher, farmer, musician, secretary, and a missionary. She did end up doing all of those things because as a mother that is what you do. My dad on the other hand just did whatever came up. He made his best grades in physics so he ended up as a meteorologist.
The question is how should one choose a way to a path for this life? Ecclesiastes 12:13 says " The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man."
Well, what does God command? The Bible says in Matthew 22:36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
How should one love God and love others? If I were advising a young or an old person on how to choose a path for this life I would say--pray about it and ask God to put on your heart and mind something you could do that would use your talents you want to develop. Try out something new. Have a passion to help people who have experienced some of the same life happenings that you have experienced. Also, be humble before God. Confess your sins and accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior.
If you delight yourself in the Lord,... he will give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:4)
Another idea I had was to move to New York City and to try out for the Rockettes. (The Rockettes are an American precision dance company. Founded in 1925 in St. Louis, they have performed at Radio City Music Hall in Manhattan, New York City, since 1932. Until 2015 they also had a touring company. ) Unfortunately I was an inch too short. I was almost 5'5" but 5'6" was the minimum height requirement.
It was at that point I started talking to a fellow student who was one of the EWU newspaper and yearbook photographers about taking portfolio pictures of me that would make me look taller. He did photograph me several times. We began talking about his dreams--to sail in the ocean. I thought that sounded like fun. One thing led to another and we ended up getting married that August after we had both received our Bachelors degrees.
Our first born, Heather, always wanted to be whatever her daddy was. When he was a photojournalist she wanted to become one. When he worked in high tech she followed in his footsteps. Our son, Jes, on the other had was like me--he had interests but none that really seemed like viable vocations. He was interested in playing the drum and specifically playing music from around the world, but the lifestyle of a musician is never something he entertained. His grandfather, who had been a professional musician, urged him not to be a musician, but he already didn’t see the benefit of it. He enjoyed working on bicycles, but not enough to do it for a job (also a hard vocation if you want to make a living). There was nothing really where he felt settled. After working on a number of tech contracts and moving to an area where those are few and far between he needed to reinvent himself.
So I tell him and others the story of how my mom wanted to be a nurse, teacher, farmer, musician, secretary, and a missionary. She did end up doing all of those things because as a mother that is what you do. My dad on the other hand just did whatever came up. He made his best grades in physics so he ended up as a meteorologist.
The question is how should one choose a way to a path for this life? Ecclesiastes 12:13 says " The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man."
Well, what does God command? The Bible says in Matthew 22:36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
How should one love God and love others? If I were advising a young or an old person on how to choose a path for this life I would say--pray about it and ask God to put on your heart and mind something you could do that would use your talents you want to develop. Try out something new. Have a passion to help people who have experienced some of the same life happenings that you have experienced. Also, be humble before God. Confess your sins and accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior.
If you delight yourself in the Lord,... he will give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:4)
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