If we are honest, I think that most of us have hopes and dreams that feel out of reach or just beyond what "we" can make happen. I'm finding it's what we do with those aspirations and how we respond to disappointments that make all the difference.
When we prepared to take the leap of faith and move to Florida years ago, the dream of being at ocean's edge became a long awaited hope soon to be fulfilled. What many may not know is that I had tried to move to Miami when I was single decades earlier. For various reasons, the timing was off, and I was left wondering if it was ever going to happen. At that time, the disappointment felt like that dream had died.
Up until 5 years ago, I had resigned myself to the idea that I would move south, even after I married Shelli, who was from Florida. Every time we would talk about moving, it would just fall flat and did not "feel right". I had come to a place that if it was "meant to be", it would happen. There is a verse that comes to mind that really sums this up for me.
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts."
~Isaiah 55:8-9
In hindsight, had we moved years earlier, our rental properties and our home would not have yielded as high a return, we would not have had my mother to help with our children when they were little like we did in Cincinnati / Covington, and our MCM fixer-upper home may not have been available at the time, just to name a few.
Do not lose heart if your pursuits are unfolding differently than you had hoped. Keep God first, keep showing up, do the work, and your dreams will manifest in time. Just keep in mind the process and the outcome may be unlike what you expect. I'm reminding myself of this again as much as I am you!
This season, while it has been a challenging transition, has been a very rewarding time for me and my family. We are loving being near the beach. It has been hard but worth the wait.
Be Encouraged,
P.S. If you would like to check out my original hand-drawn art work on merchandise, we have NEW super soft, tri-blend, unisex t-shirts that have up to 14 color options! Check them out here.
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