Comments on: Should we really tell kids they can be whatever they want to be?

By: Katelyn Fagan

Katelyn Fagan — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 02:03:31 +0000

In reply to Kelsey.

You make such a great point! Ideally we do WANT to do what we do because it is where God has led us or our children. And there are things that we do often feel we are “supposed” to do, in order to do things “right” but they may not be right for us or what we are supposed to do. Thanks so much for your comment. I love it! Wanting is important – it does show where our heart and our priorities are.

By: Kelsey

Kelsey — Sat, 15 Aug 2015 17:21:56 +0000

I love that you are courageous enough to do whatever God asks of you. I guess for me, I have difficulty with the wording of some of this post because, you ARE doing whatever you want to do. You are pursuing your highest desire; you WANT to be a disciple of Christ. I like using the language of whatever you “want” to do and be because I hope (and I’m guessing you do, too) my children will follow the promptings of the Spirit because that is what they want. I think the point you are making is spot on – what the world sees as being “whatever you want to be” is too limiting. It doesn’t see eternity. I guess for me it’s just important that I chose to be a mother and do what God wants me to do because I WANT to follow Him. Too often in my life I have felt pressured, or perhaps more to the point, pressured myself, because I thought I was “supposed” to do a certain thing. I actually had difficulty doing some of what God wanted me to do (like get an advanced degree in a “frivolous” major) because it wasn’t what I was “supposed” to do. It was, in fact, what I wanted, what I had really always wanted to do since I was a little girl. And that was also what God wanted for me. So, I guess what I’m saying is that I think it’s important not to take the “wanting” out of it. To me, that is what we are on earth to decide – what we really want. To follow God or not. To choose what we really want to be. And often, I think God uses our desires, our wanting, to do His work.

By: Maioha

Maioha — Thu, 21 May 2015 05:25:24 +0000

Ahh, thank you for this!
Not for my children (they’re too young right now), but for me, this is EXACTLY where I am right now.
I spent a fair amount of time earlier this year praying for God’s direction about what He wanted me to do with my life and I felt a most definite response (so nice when that happens 🙂 )
Now that I am pursuing that path, I can see how He has guided me from the beginning. All of the jobs that I had and hated, but persisted in, and the job I loved, have all given me the skills and confidence to go ahead with the business that Heavenly Father has directed me to. Without any one of them, I wouldn’t be prepared for what comes next.

Also, the Lord always has a good reason for not telling us everything from the beginning. If I’d known when I was younger what His plan was for me today, I would have died with the thought of becoming something I would have considered to be so boring, but now that I’m here, I love it!

Thanks, Katelyn!

By: Katelyn Fagan

Katelyn Fagan — Mon, 30 Mar 2015 03:24:12 +0000

In reply to Andrea. Good luck figuring out where God wants you to grow, blossom, and use your divine talents Andrea! It's hard! Perhaps those marketing skills and knowledge will prove useful in a way you didn't imagine before, as you someday venture on a new path.

By: Andrea

Andrea — Mon, 30 Mar 2015 00:49:54 +0000

I don’t know how I came up with this article but was everything I needed in this moment. I’ve been struggling exactly with the issue of “did I chose the right carreer for me?” I’m 23 years old and got a degree in marketing. Let me tell you that I like it but don’t love it. I’ve always been shy and living inside my world. That doesn’t mean that I do nos socialize or retreat completely from people, nevertheless it’s been hard for me to come out from my insecurity shell. As a marketer, there are some abilities that you should possess in order to be a successful professional. I’m not saying that I’m a bad one, but I just simply feel this is not my thing. My passion is literature, if I could read all day or have a job that implies creative writing, I would be happier. God has blessed me with a great life, but still I’m having this internal fighting that haunts me everyday. I feel miserable most days because of this and sometimes guilty. I’m aware that I’m young and can change my path, but don’t know why.

By: Kerry

Kerry — Fri, 27 Feb 2015 07:26:02 +0000

I totally agree with you. I think we use the phrase “you can be anything you want to be” flippantly. Of course, we don’t mean anything. We really do want to help our children focus on whatever things they choose to do. Thanks for stating what should be obvious but has become cliche.

By: Brittany Bullen

Brittany Bullen — Fri, 27 Feb 2015 06:02:14 +0000

Hey Katelyn!

I wasn’t sure where you were going with this one in the FB group so I was glad I got the chance to read it. I see what you mean and I think it’s a great point.

These days I think kids are getting too much of “you can do whatever you want,” “don’t do it if it’s not fun”, that sort of thing. But the thing is, I think they need to hear a little bit of “sometimes you have to do hard things, things you don’t want to do.” Because it’s true. There’s no avoiding it.

What we CAN do is make the most of what we have.

Thanks for the reminder.

Brittany

By: Katelyn Fagan

Katelyn Fagan — Wed, 25 Feb 2015 18:53:34 +0000

In reply to Elizabeth. Thank you so much Elizabeth! I really appreciate your kind words.

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Wed, 25 Feb 2015 17:48:54 +0000

Katelyn, I agree that we need to teach our children to find their calling. And, that life will definitely bring challenges and changes. It is not only teaching them to do hard things, but how to be resilient and bounce back when hopes and dreams don’t work out. I think it is amazing what you have done with your blog, and how you balance writing and sharing your “good news” without alienating others. Great post.

By: Katelyn Fagan

Katelyn Fagan — Wed, 25 Feb 2015 04:26:13 +0000

In reply to Jill Levenhagen. Awww, you are sweet Jill! :)

By: Jill Levenhagen

Jill Levenhagen — Wed, 25 Feb 2015 03:44:11 +0000

Love this post Katelyn! Great advice and I love your back story! You are such a gifted writer!