When Faith Endures

​Greetings, My Creative Companions!
​
I know not everyone considers themselves "creatives" but we all have the innate desire to create something. If you think about your unique way to create you will understand why "creative companions" fits us all.

​I will not doubt, I will not fear;
God’s love and strength are always near.
His promised gift helps me to find
An inner strength and peace of mind.
I give the Father willingly
My trust, my prayers, humility.
His Spirit guides; his love assures
That fear departs when faith endures.

It has been a few months since my last update and it is time that changed!

This journey we call life is filled with so many twists and turns, unknowns, unexpected joys and sometimes heartaches, challenges, and then the realizations that God's plan for you is so much better that you could possibly create on your own. 

Many would say that by the time one reaches my age retirement is the next step, and that may be the proper thing for some, but not me. Even from a young age I have often said that I will likely work until the afternoon of my funeral. I know, that is not exactly possible but I plan to give it my best shot. Let me share a couple stories that have only strengthened that resolve. 

The first story happened at my first "big girl" job working for O.C. Tanner in Salt Lake City, Utah. There were some pretty amazing people working for the company back then. In those days (back in the 1900's) people would often get a job with a company like O.C. Tanner, start at the bottom and then over a lifetime work their way up the ladder to different positions and better pay, and then retire. Such was the case for most of upper management at Tanner's when I worked there. Although, I do not remember the man's name or probably every detail of his story, I do remember that just weeks before his retirement he was diagnosed with cancer. It wasn't good and all of the plans that he and his wife had for their "retirement years" became wishes that never materialized.

The second story is about my former father-in-law, Blair Harmon. He was a good man and so kind to me, and he gave the best hugs! Blair had worked hard to pay off every debt and put aside what they planned to retire on. When he turned 69 he decided it was time to retire and he and his wife Esther had big plans. Just days before Blair's retirement party he collapsed with a brain aneurism and died a few days later, never regaining consciousness.

I have always remembered and felt sad about these two events. What I took away from watching these stories play out, and this is just my take, is that waiting for retirement, more money, better timing or someone else's approval to enjoy life, is not for me. When doors open, opportunities present themselves, and challenges arise there is not better time than the present to take a chance, learn, experience, grow, and discover. I do not believe that God gives me an opportunity now and then expects me to wait until a better moment to do something about it. Faith in God is developed by doing things when it is not convenient, when we have no idea how it will work, how to accomplish it, or how we will even pay for it. Trusting God's timing in our lives and exercising Faith in Him is where the great things happen, big and small, our own miracles from heaven.

Anyone who knows me, even a little, knows that I do not believe it is ever too late to try something new, go back to school, travel, do things differently, and I love change. 

I am working on something exciting and I will reveal bits here as it all unfolds.

​Cheers for now!