ALONG FOR THE RIDE

A friend of mine came to visit me today to discuss some ideas for her new website that I am designing for her. As ideas came to mind we would discuss and either opt them in or toss them out. Some ideas we decided to ponder on for a while and come back later to make a decision. At one point in the conversation she stopped and started laughing and shook her head at me. She told me that she did not see herself a year ago on this road to owning her own business and moving forward as fast as she is. She told me that I was pushing her and things were going too fast. I had heard her say this to me before and I began to pull back after the last discussion, because she has to be ready to do this and it has to be at her pace and not mine. However, this time I heard something different. She let me know that she needed this. She wanted it bad but she was never sure how to get moving with it and some of the areas she definitely didn't have a handle on such as social media and web design. She was amazed at what I was doing, but I shared with her that I have learned so much through publishing my book and I have so much more to learn. I spend hours researching and trying different ideas as I also build my editing business. But the reality of what she said didn't hit me until later this evening as I was walking through the grocery store. Last year this time I didn't see myself being here in this place of my life either. And almost three years ago I definitely did not see it. Just after going through a mass layoff with my organization my husband and a friend of mine both encouraged me to start my own business. I told them there was no way that I could do that. I couldn't do it because I couldn't see it. That brings me to my point...vision.
It is often said that you have to see it for the dream to be realized. You have to open yourself up for all the possibilities that can be and are to come. And once you can dream it, then you can see it in your mind and map out that road for where you're going. God will begin to bring the vision to light and He will bless you with every resource and knowledge that you need. Sometimes, you may not understand where the road is going and how you're going to accomplish some things. 
 But if you open up and allow Him to use your gifts that He has blessed you with for His glory, and if you learn to trust Him to do the work in you that He has begun, He will enable you to overcome every obstacle. He will work in you in ways that you know was Him all along, because you could not do it without Him. So although I've got a long journey ahead of me, so much more to learn, so many others to reach, and I'm just at the beginning I know that in Him I can do all things...and I'm along for the ride wherever He leads me on this road. I will open myself and my gifts for Him to use as He pleases to bring honor and glory to Him. Yep, just along for the ride. If you have a vision...don't be afraid to pursue it. Even if you cannot see how it's going to be realized...believe in yourself and surround yourself with a great support system. The road to owning your business or living your dreams starts with one simple step.   JUST A PIECE OF THIS WRITER... C. MICHELLE RAMSEY