“What happens to a dream deferred?”  The question Langston Hughes writes in a poem, “Does it dry up?”

I remember as a child writing my dreams and aspirations down almost obsessively.  I would often isolate myself in my room and allow my creative juices to flow.  Whether sketching or using my imagination playing with toys or concocting a strategy to take over the world (evil laugh).  Well, maybe that’s going too far.  I was more than liking, mixing up all my moms seasonings in water to pretend feed my baby dolls; that sounds a little more accurate.  But, determined I am, I set out to accomplish those dreams and by 35 I’ll retire and live my best life.

Now, HERE I AM! 35 and yeap you probably guessed, I’m NOT retired (womp womp)

So I ask myself the question, What happen to that dream?  You see, within those goals I never once considered the possibilities of having a family and marriage was far from the equation.  My mom would say to me “Delayed gratification”, which helps me come down off my high horse when my ambition has a hold on me.  What I’ve learned is everything begins with God. We were created by God and for God and until we understand that, life will never make sense.  It’s through God that our identity, purpose and destiny are revealed, any other way outside of Christ is a dead end.

I won’t count it as a loss, because technically I have “retired” my working career in retail.  Let us not grow complacent.  Will one ever retire? I seriously doubt it, where I am today is a reflection of God ordering my steps.  The key to our future can be found in an ongoing commitment to learning who God says we are.  Will a dream dry up? It can.  We only succeed at a goal when we put our mind to it. I encourage you to dream big dreams, to accomplish them but do not miss the purpose for which God created you to be.

Thought to ponder: What small goal will you achieve today that will propel you towards your 3-5 year dream?

Photo credit: Jodiebrim.com , Makeup: @releventfaces , Dress: @sochicfactory