There’s a little 8-year-old girl at church who I absolutely love. I’ll call her Ladybug, mainly because that IS what I call her (Incidentally, she calls me Miss Swirly). We see each other most weeks and have become pen pals as well which is a lot of fun. If there’s one thing I like as much as my time with children is receiving letters from children.
After church a couple of weeks ago we got to talking, as I was waiting for a friend and she was waiting for her mother. We had covered the usual conversation topics: Christmas, birthday, and vacation, and there was a bit of a lull. I could see she was searching her brain for something new to talk about and she hesitating asked,
“What do you want to be when you grow up?”
She hesitated, because she did realize I was grown up so the question wasn’t quite polite, but she wanted to know the answer of the question anyway. After she grinned apologetically, I assured it was a fine question to ask.
What DO I want to be when I grow up?
I don’t remember how I answered the question then, but it has been something that has been on my mind the last couple of weeks, since I’ve been out of school. It’s not that the question is so hard to answer, it’s just that it has many answers.
Above all else, I want to be a godly wife and mother when I grow up. That’s fairly straight-forward, and I can imagine that path, all except the beginning. What first steps do you take to that kind of goal? While I certainly have taken steps towards being an oyster not a clam and it’s a definitely a process. I’ve also been seeking to becoming a godly woman as that comes before being a godly wife and mom and will help me no matter what the rest of my life looks like.
So that’s the first answer to the question, the real answer, the one that I’ll give if I trust the asker. There are many other answers to that question: a writer, a teacher, a world-traveler, a godly influence on the next generation.
And until the day that the first answer can be pursued further, I’ll be perfectly content pursuing the other dreams in my life.
But that doesn’t make the first dream go away.
I’m always finding new dreams for what I want to be when I “grow up!”
Those are wonderful dreams.
Incidentally, I’m going to start calling you “Miss Swirly.”
Aw, that was my nickname–Lady Bug! Not anymore, so don’t even!! ;)
What a thought-provoking question. And I’m sure she really wanted to know.
May I ask why Miss Swirly?
Awe, great post Ronnica. I wish I knew a great guy… that was single. You have wonderful dreams and goals and you WILL be blessed some day – I just don’t know if it will be down here or up there… but YOU WILL be blessed for being the Godly woman that you are. Swirly?…hummm. :0)
I think I shall call you Miss Swirly from now on. :-) Emma and I are having these conversations now, what she wants to be when she grows up. She’s decided to be a veterinarian. I’m impressed that she knows what it is and can actually say it. She told me I wanted to be a mom and now I am a mom.
What wonderful aspirations for when you “grow up.” :)
From what I’ve read you know that the best way to become a godly wife and mother is to be a godly single person. As a pastor’s wife I’ve met many who want godliness in marriage but anything but beforehand. Singleness can be a good preadmission test to married life.
We also both realize that not all godly women are given husbands, but God doesn’t think of such as second-rate citizens. Neither should anyone else. Forever single women have even greater potential for godliness.
Keep studying! I’m not the one grading the papers, but I’d like to think of myself as a tutor.
The bottom line is to be willing to be whatever God wants you to be when you “grow up.”
That’s a great answer. You never know where life will take you, but your principles can guide you throughout.
Thank you so much for your kind words on my blog yesterday. It just means so much to know that people care and will support me through this journey.
As for you I think you are already a very godly person and I think if you follow your heart the rest will fall into place.
That’s a lovely answer… not clammy one bit!
I’m curious about the Miss Swirly. I’m trying to decide if it was your hair, but I don’t think it was as swirly/curly as mine….I give up.
I think godly woman definitely comes first. And I also think that you are already taking the first steps of the godly wife and mother…purity.
Amen. A godly woman should be every woman’s first aspiration. And what a sweet question for her to have asked you :)
You ARE starting out the right way – by pursuing being a Godly woman.
And he is out there. I believe God wants to bless you with the desires of your heart. I am praying those blessings for you this evening.
It’s good to have goals…BUT, it’s also good to be open to opportunities that God places before you. I’m sure you’ll be wise enough to know what to do.
PS I’m probably old enough to be your mom, but I still don’t know what I want to be when I grow up…I’m too busy enjoying the trip to decide!
It’s good to be prepared for the journey of life, but don’t forget to wander down a sideroad occasionally!