Are you depending on someone else to reach your goals for you?
My children couldn’t wait to see the trouble Bozo and Oliver ‘O Oliver would get into every day. They would wolf down their lunch so they didn’t miss any of the show. Tickets for the show, which air in Chicago, were impossible to get. People reserved tickets when they knew they were going to have a child, just so they get to be on the show at a reasonable age, which is how back logged getting tickets were. It only became more exciting when they added the Bozo buckets to the program. And to make it fair, some lucky boy and girl at home would win matching prizes. Games, the newest toys, certificates to amusement parks and ice cream places, new bikes, it was all very exciting.
While we never sent the names of our children in for the bucket drawing, other children sat watching and crossed their fingers, toes, and eyes hoping their name would be picked. They were counting on the chance of getting picked so they would receive the prizes of their dreams!
Many of us in today’s world are like those children with crossed fingers, waiting for ‘chance’ to make our lives better. We buy raffle tickets, lottery tickets, and go to casinos, anything we can do to beat the odds to get a better life. How is that working for you so far? Here is a novel idea, how about working for a better life? Go back to school, learn a trade, or get a second job. ‘Chance’ is not going to come by and dump a new life in your lap. I know life can hand you the stinky end of a stick sometimes, but honey, wipe it off and use the stick to beat back whatever is holding you back from realizing your dreams! You will be proud you accomplished what you set out to achieve, more than if it were handed to you.
As parents we need to teach our children at an early age to work for things they would like to have. Give them an allowance for chores they have to do during the week. Read to them the, parable of the talents, in the book of Matthew so they understand it is better to work, than have something given to them, and expect great things to happen on its own.
We as writers do play the odds when we submit one of our works. Hoping the publisher didn’t just publish a work of the same type as we submitted. This is not the same as expecting chance to hand us something we did not work for, it is just circumstances; a very different subject! So keep working toward the goals you have set.
For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
Matthew 16:26-27
Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded.
II Chronicles 15:7
He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.
The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord.
Proverbs 16:33