Monday, January 12, 2009

Old desires and new lessons

The picture above hangs in my tiny "Victorian" bathroom. It is a Mary Engelbreit "poster" (cut from her magazine) with the words "It Is Never Too Late to Be What You Might Have Been". I remember cutting out the poster a couple years ago, very soon after reading the magazine (and finding an extra frame I had "put back" to frame it) so I could look at the words every day.

When my husband and I were first married, it was the 1970s and the "back to the land" movement was just beginning... brought about by an economic crisis meeting an energy crisis (hmmm... sound familiar?). He had just returned from Viet Nam and finished his Bachelor's degree when we met and was working on his Master's by the time we married.

We thought we would end up living in North Carolina, him working in a furniture company and me staying at home raising a garden and children, perhaps playing a dulcimer and weaving my own fabric (really, honest). What is that old saying... if you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans?

He did go to work for a furniture company but we ended up living near Lake Michigan (can we say tons of snow each year?) and I had to go to work full time for awhile. However, because of my earlier plans... I always understood those who wanted to save the planet, go organic, etc. I didn't know lots of other Conservatives felt the same until I read Crunchy Con.

I truly believe one of the lies the enemy of our souls tells us is that it is "too late" to become anything other than what we are. It doesn't matter if we are twenty and we're told it is too late to take ballet lessons or learn a musical instrument... or if we're ninety and we're told it is too late to learn anything!

I've decided I'm going to take the advice on the poster to heart. This is the year to attempt fresh projects and learn new skills I've wanted to know for a very long time. Yes, I will get quite fatigued at times as (barring a miracle) I will have to forge through the exhaustion caused by a chronic illness. Finances are always an issue but if a skill is a God given desire... He provides.

So... since this is the week I plan to do some serious study and pondering... I will add to the many lists being made those things I would like to learn more about. I will stop the unhealthy thoughts that enter my brain, those which tell me it is too late for... anything.

Well, perhaps it is too late to learn gymnastics. :)

Photo: Mary Engelbreit's "It's Never Too Late": available at prints.com

24 comments:

Vee said...

This one nailed me. I am guilty of that kind of thinking all the time. When another one of those limiting thoughts enters my head, I hope to remember this post. Thank you!

Sharon said...

What a wonderful, inspiring post!!! Personally, I can't wait to get my pilots license! (Details in my blog - NEVER something I would have considered before!)The greatest thing about this quote is that it can also relate to delveloping a closer relationship with our Father in Heaven! Thanks for sharing! :)

Unknown said...

Exactly! I just saw an opportunity yesterday to audit an online Bible class. I have been homeschooling for 15 years, now let's see if I can go back to school to study my favorite subject. (A little fear and trembling.) Thank you for the encouragement.

Anita said...

Very inspiring! Thanks for sharing.

Debra said...

Oh! You stole the blog post inside my head...heh... :)Loved yours better.

And I used to be a gymnast in high school but even now I would say to you never say never about gymnastics, either. Think of floor routines--there are many pretty dance steps and stretching moves which you can work up to even now. Trust me--at nearly 50, I get so inspired by watching the old Fame tv series and it gets me back up on my toes, reaching for the ceiling and dancing around the living room. You can do that, too! Blessings, Debra

Thickethouse.wordpress said...

It's not too late for .......anything........I have the words of the Mary Engelbreit poster on my refrigerator. But they are almost buried under all the other things I have posted there! Thanks for reminding me, Brenda. I think God is giving you the gift of wisdom here! You really are a very gifted woman, you know.

Scrappy quilter said...

Thanks for the reminder. I've made this year a year of learning new things as well. I have a list on my blog of one new thing I especially want to learn each month. Your blog always inspires me to do new things.

gail said...

Thanks Brenda,

We all needed to hear that. Go for it.

Blessings Gail

Simply Heart And Home said...

What a thought provoking post. You are so right about it being never too late.

My heart longs for simpler days. I've been rereading Little Women. My daughters and I had a conversation about that very thing. Have you read it? Most people have I think. It is one of my favorite books and I wrote of it today. Which of the dear March girls are you most like?

Also, I am hoping to have a giveaway every month. Tomorrow I will post the particulars for January and I hope you will join us for the fun.

Blessings

Abounding Treasures said...

A very thought-provoking post!

It's certainly too late for me to learn gymnastics but as you point out, it's never too late to learn new things that we were always interested in.

If the desires are in His will ... He most definitely WILL PROVIDE!!

Blessings!

Anonymous said...

Great post, Brenda. I think I'm going to take those master gardening classes I've been thinking about for years...From a reader in Long Island...

Anonymous said...

Great post, Brenda. Maybe I'll look into that master gardener program after all...

Anonymous said...

Oh, Brenda! Good for you!!! The poster's sentiment is true, it is never too late to learn something new!! We, you and I, are in the same age range, I think, so I'll have no naysaying the whole gymnastics thing! heeheehee

We are embarking on a similar adventure here (expanding our orchard, garden and planting season) and I will be reading up on raising chickens for meat, too. I have a son eager for the challenge of rasiing the birds, so it will be a great mother-son project. I hope.(gulping hard!). I've also materials to start my first quilt, which is also a new skill.

All that to say (in my best California voice) "You GO girl!!!"

Anonymous said...

Yikes, I just typed a fairly lengthy comment and then Poof, it was gone. If you stumble across one just before this one with no name. It was me, telling you, among other things, "You GO girl!".

Sorry about messing up.

Susan B said...

Thank you for the inspiring post...it is so true. It is never too late to learn new things...as long as you are willing to do so. I often find myself caught up with negative thinking...this year I want to teach myself to think positively. With God's help, I will.

Unknown said...

This is a wonderful post. You are so right...the enemy is always trying to keep us from becoming what the Lord intended us to be. It's never too late and I think that our heart's desire often happens later in life when we have the time to be thankful for it.

Karen

Kelly said...

I think that is the perfect attitude, you can do All things through Christ! I look forward to sharing these new adventures with you! But I am not too great with the gymnastics part! haha!

have a great week!

Kelly

Lady Katherine said...

Ok! I am living in lymbo! With my illness! My heart and head want to, sometimes body will not! But after reading this, It's not too late, and never need to give up! Ok I am done! I am going to get up in the morning with a list of its not too late!

Anonymous said...

Great post, Brenda. Now you have me thinking (yet again).

Musings of A Minister said...

Orchids for your attitude. It was like a cool breeze blowing across my brow this morning to read your encouraging words. I agree with everything you said, including, or should I say--especially the gymnastics part.

Anonymous said...

Too late for gymnastics?
Not at all! Hope you have a chance to see the V8 juice advertisement featuring the competitive skier, Fran Woofenden,83 years young!!!! :-)

Brenda, I appreciate the ideas you write about. You are inspiring.

Live, love and learn,
Jean

Mimi said...

True words, but I got tickled by your last statement. I have a vision of all of us over-fifties in gymnastics class!

Tracey McBride ~ Frugal Luxuries® said...

Brenda...you are such a wonderful writer...you always inspire me to think and I appreciate this quality in your work. I absolutely agree with you in that it's a trick of the enemy to think that the hour (any hour) is too late for things to change for the better. To believe this is, in my mind,simply another version of despair. And, as Marilla said in ANNE OF GREEN GABLES, "To despair is to turn your back on God." I am the eternal optimist and believe anything is possible with God's help. (Of course, we must meet Him half way:) Thank you again and again for your inspiring and thoughtful posts.
God Bless.
Warmly,
Traceyxox

debbie bailey said...

I have that poster above my desk. I love how it inspires me to try new things. My motto is "Go For It"!