As I see it, Ambition and I have been friends for as long as I can remember. As a young person, we were pursuing a career in performing arts. Ambition and I thought it would be best for us to move to New York City. When acting didn’t feel like God’s plan for us, we decided to shift our direction and move to the country. We got married (not to each other, of course), had four kids, built a house and started a photography business together.

But just like the other important things in my life, Ambition needed attention. But the bigger our family got, the less attention I was able to give her. She didn’t let that stop her. She kept knocking at my door. Naturally, I’d let her in. We’d chat and try to catch-up but we’d get interrupted. And then we’d overhear someone saying how fast kids grow up and how, before you know it, they’re off to college. “Ambition, I’m going to have to ask you to go.”

This spring she knocked again. She looked strong and beautiful and for the first time, I let her do the talking. Ambition said to me, “For all these years I’ve let you believe that I was born of the fire in your belly. I’m not born from you. That deep yearning you’ve always had to love and serve others on a big scale is not your plan for you, it’s God’s plan for you. I need you to listen to me and trust in my strength. I’m here to give you permission to be wonderful. I’m here to give you permission to live a life that puts your needs, your desires and your hopes on the list. I’ve got plans for us and I’d love it if you recognized that your devotion to both your family and things outside of your family is going to allow you to bloom in a way you never knew you could—trust me.”

Message received.

Know anyone not listening to the fire in their belly? Maybe you could forward this to them. And how about you? Do you feel like you listen to your ambition or allow it to dim? Please leave a comment below.

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