In Others’ Word: Looking for Proof

I may have mentioned this  before, so forgive me if I’m repeating myself.

Back when my first book released — my nonfiction book about late-in-life motherhood, not my debut novel — I had this thought: Maybe, just maybe, this will prove my value to them.

Now you don’t need to know who made up “them.” All you need to know is that I turned my dream into some sort of virtual measuring stick — and offered it to someone and asked, “Do I measure up now?”

I didn’t ask the question out loud — I wasn’t that desperate. But I did wait to see what “they” said — or didn’t say –about my book because they’re reactions were going to validate me.

But God doesn’t grant our dreams only to stand back and watch us sacrifice them on some altar dedicated to others’ approval.

Dreams, as Holley Gerth so wisely says, aren’t about us. God doesn’t birth a dream inside of me or you and say, “Here, I hope you feel better about yourself now.”

No.

God wants us to steep ourselves in his love so that we know that we are accepted, we are valued, we are loved — dream come true or not.

The challenge? Knowing who you are — and the value of your dream — no matter what they say … or don’t say.

In Your Words: How do you keep your dreams from becoming a virtual measuring stick, using your successes to evaluate your worth? Any tips for not letting dreams become about us?

DANGER: When a #dream becomes a virtual measuring stick #lifequotes
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Looking for proof in all the wrong places #lifequotes #dreams
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