When I was twelve years old I had a traumatic experience with my bicycle. I was headed home and on the handebars I carried two large, heavy sacks. Part of the ride home took me down a long, steep hill. I didn’t think anything of it as I headed down … but soon I found myself flying through the air and landing on the asphalt with a thud. Ouch! I was scraped up all over. What was the culprit of my accident? Books. I’d been to the library and I’d checked out as many as I could carry home. The books had been heavier than me, obviously. I had skinned knees and elbows to prove it.
Looking back, I didn’t grow up in a reading home, yet in 6th grade we moved within a few miles of the library. Once I started reading I couldn’t stop. I especially liked Little House on the Prairie books and Nancy Drew novels.
Fast-forward twenty-five years, and I’m a multi-published author. My love of books has become my career. I love what I do, mostly because I’ve loved books for so long. My job is a natural outpouring of who God created me to be.
In your teen years a question you’re often asked is, “What type of job are you going to pursue?” Maybe you have an answer. Maybe you have no idea!
My encouragement to you is to think back to what you’ve always loved. Is it art? Music? Animals? Playing school? Cooking? God has created each of us with unique gifts and talents. We can usually “see” these in our youth. We know what we like without worrying about colleges or “success” in life.
After you take time to consider what you love most, pray about how you can use your God-given talents to impact the world. God places these things inside of you for a reason. He has a plan that will impact people and will bring joy to your heart as you work. Sometimes the best way to discover what those gifts are is to look back and remember what you first loved. What you spent your childhood enjoying is a good indicator of what you’d love spend your life pursuing.
That’s a great story. I remember sitting for hours alone in my room writing stories. I put my writing on the shelf for so long and didn’t revive it till I was a grandmother. God gives us our gifts – we dont choose them. I just wish I hadnt waited so long to use them. Now it’s my chosen profession!
I have always wanted to encourage and make an impact on others’ lives in a positive way. I think I do that to a small degree – but there is still a hunger in me to do more.
I keep praying and seeking God and as long as I’m where He wants me, then I can feel good about that. I do know that both my husband and I desire to be in ministry more.
Jan, I agree! God places our gifts in us!
Dionna, John and I were thinking the same thing and in a matter of MONTHS God placed us in FamilyLife. Keep seeking and you will find!
Great thoughts! And so true! And what a joy it is to be occupied in that which God created you to love most! I know I need that focus more so that I don’t waste what has been so graciously given to me.
This summer, my youngest has fallen in love with books. She stays up way too late, and we don’t mind (We’ll, I take that back, we did mind when she read until 4:00 a.m. one night). God can do something with all those trips of imagination she’s been going on. I wonder what she’ll become?
This is a great reminder to parents – do not “push” your children to do what everyone else is doing. Find their natural “bent” and allow them to explore and flourish in that area!