What did you want to be when you grow up

Those Catholic hustling salesmen... get you every time

Not any more, I have to say😂😇🙏

You are older (but not looking it) and wiser.

I always wanted to retire early and enjoy my grandchildren. I wanted to fix things as a child, and I was blessed with the ability to enjoy forty years of fixing things and to retire in time the enjoy my grandchildren.

Beneath our High School photos in our yearbooks many years ago, we were required to list our future plans. Mine said "undecided". I wasn't saved at that time, and since getting saved, my only real plan has been to try to serve the Lord and others. I've gone through many droughts, figuratively speaking, where I've felt totally unfruitful, but I am helping some people now, so I'm happy about that. I told a friend of mine on the phone earlier today that I'm sensing that the Lord wants me to take a vacation alone sometime soon so I can cut off all distractions and further seek his will for my life. What that is, I don't presently know, but I know that it's going to take some time alone with him to find out.

I heard a saying once, was secular, though: "If you're really honest with what you want out of Life, Life gives it to you". I would just change the second Life to God. God gives us the Life we pray and ask and seek for. What is it we really want? That's what we should decide. Not all prosperity is material wealth. Also contentment, joy and peace in whatever is God's Will for us is a prosperous life. God wants for that for all His Children, I'm sure, as many Bible passages indicate. For the young in particular, imo we should set our goals early, and aspire also to do many things for Our Lord when we get time later on.

Well, that certainly does not apply in many cases. We see Christians who wound up in situations beyond their control that produce great unhappiness (work life, being unable to retire, living situations, unable to find a mate or even friends, etc.). God doesn't fulfill all of our legitimate desires (I don't expect Him to fulfill our illegitimate ones )

I dunno... I've seen a lot of times where people prayed until they got what they wanted. Then they regretted being so insistent.

If you want something bad enough and bug God enough about it, God might give it to you even though you shouldn't have it. Or at least that has been my experience.

I think I wanted to be a singer and I know I wanted to be an author... they're still both great interests of mine but not something I'm famous for or that consumes my life...
So far I've worked in several food stores, done a bit of produce farming, was a maid for several young moms, done seamstress work, helped homeschool my younger siblings and helped a little in a Christian school, and now I work on a chicken farm. I have in mind to write a biography, but so far have only gotten small works published in magazines. We'll see what adventures God has planned up ahead...

May I ask what types of small works have been published in magazines?

A couple short stories, a small article/story, a poem. I sent a poem and story in recently and am waiting to hear if they're accepted.

I've also had stories rejected When I was 12 I must've been pretty ambitious but over-ambitious and had 2 stories rejected that I submitted to a children's magazine. Then one when I was a teenager.

Are any of your poems related to Christ or Christianity? I'm asking because there is a Christian poem forum here. If so, then I'd be interested in reading your work. You certainly seem to be full of ambition and life. That's just an observation. I can't help that I'm a man who is saying it. Blame God for that.

If you haven't been rejected you haven't been submitting. That's my mantra.

In case this last part didn't make sense to you or others, here is my standard for interacting with or treating women:

1Timothy 5:2
The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.

In other words, whether with you or any other female, my motives are respectful and pure.

Yes I have posted a couple poems there already (one of them I accidentally put on Descent to Darkness thread tho) And the other one, My Ways, I posted yesterday. Yes nearly all my poems and stories are about the Lord, some of them borne directly from deep trials I've been through; a hearts cry or testimony to Him.
Well I'm glad you think so. It's because of the Lord. Up till recently I didn't know if I could ever truly enjoy life again...

There you go, Good motto. I expect I haven't seen my full share of rejections

Great, great standard.

I'll have to check them out tomorrow. Right now, I need to take care of some other things. Good night, all.

I wait until I'm low on scrap paper and submit all kind of stuff.