You Can Still Fulfill Your Dreams

It’s been called “coincidence.” Some call it a “lucky encounter,” or even “fate.” Hallmark movies call it a “Godwink.” I call it “God’s Hand in action.” Not very snappy for a title, but oh, so accurate. That’s what happened to me on a very early morning in September 2017. Our home had just been decimated by Hurricane Harvey; we were living with a young couple whose wedding Ron (my husband) had presided over the previous year and we were attending a 7AM fundraising breakfast for a local ministry with whom I worked. The breakfast was almost cancelled, but the decision was made to stay as normal as possible following Harvey’s unwelcome visit to our city.

Ron and I were seated at a table way to one side of the room and populated with folks from our own church. Yet, I still knew no one seated at the table. As a deacon, Ron’s friend-base tends to be broader than mine. As we approached the table, he indicated a rather large, impressive looking Asian man and said, “Dr. Fong, how are you? I’d like you to meet my wife. Rosemary, this is Dr. Bruce Fong, a deacon with our church, and Dean and Professor of Pastoral Ministries at Dallas Theological Seminary’s Houston Campus. Excuse me, I’ll be right back.” And he turned to another individual for another conversation, just that quick!

At this point, I digress for a few minutes. Jump back about fifty years, to 1972, to see a young wife and mother who had just graduated (two years late) from her undergraduate studies with a degree in both Art and Psychology with a certification to teach. She was prepared and ready to conquer the educational world. She also had an underlying desire to become a counselor. The main issue was that she also felt the weight of the “national debt” on her shoulders from student loans, not to mention the family time she had taken from husband and two children for studies. So graduate work was out of the question.

Add to that, I had serious doubts (yes, the young woman was me) as to whether a person could be a psychologist (counselor) and a Christian. Did the two go against one another? Never anywhere in my studies had the topic of counseling from the Bible ever been alluded to, much less actually discussed. So, Christianity and the science of psychology seemed mutually exclusive. God did a “wink” then, too.

That year, our little community was visited by the Billy Graham Crusades.  Thirty-minute interviews with Franklin Graham were made available by appointment to the public — and I got one! I’m sure I dazzled him with my in-depth questions, concerns and insights, but no matter, the one question I remember asking and the amazing answer he provided.

 “Are being a psychologist and a Christian mutually exclusive?” He thought deeply for a moment and with measured words, he said, “They are not mutually exclusive. In fact, I fully believe that within the next thirty years, every major church in America will have a counseling department.”

That was so much more than I expected. At that moment the vision of my having a counseling degree and being on a church staff emerged full-blown in my head with the word, “Wait.”

From that point forward, every job/position I delved into — classroom instruction, my own business as a designer, corporate trainer, non-profit trainer — had an underpinning of counsel and advice.

Fast forward to September 2017, seated at the table with Dr. Fong. I know God was involved in the conversation because I have no idea how the conversation started, what it entailed or how it moved so quickly, but I do know Ron’s conversation with his friend lasted maybe 10 minutes and by the time he got back to the table, Dr. Fong had me recruited to DTS, signed up for Christian Counseling and had a scholarship lined up!

It still took until August 2018 to settle the rebuild of our home so I could concentrate on studies, but there I was in the classroom as a student for the first time in 50 years! Sitting among the 20- and 30-year-olds like I thought I belonged there.

DTS gives you 7 years to complete your program (a lot of people go parttime) —and Ron and I were both 73 at the time. We calculated we’d be 80 when I got my degree. He turned to me and asked, “So, how are you getting across the stage to get your degree, on a walker or am I pushing you in a wheelchair?” To which I replied, “I don’t care as long as I get across that stage.”

December 2023, I finished my last course of study, and I now have my degree. I have been part of my church’s counseling department since my practicum studies and will apply once I receive my license. Winter graduates don’t walk until the Spring — which means so get to cross the stage one week after my 79^th birthday. And here’s another Godwink — 2024 is DTS’ 100^th anniversary, so they have all sorts of special events planned — just in time for MY graduation! Wink, Wink. Thank you, Father.

“The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps” (Proverbs 16:9).

Keep making your plans, then let God direct your steps. The steps may be long, but remember, Retirement is nowhere in the scriptures! Be available for God to use you in a long life to do things you might have only dreamed of as a youth!

Have you held dreams close to your heart, thinking you are too old to try? This just may be the Godwink you need to take them out, now that you have more time, and give them serious consideration.

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Through her ministry, Marriage Connections, Rosemary has over 30 years of coaching [counseling] couples both in preparation for marriage and marriage enrichment through communication and conflict resolution, and Restoration Therapy. She and her husband of 60 years are a mentor couple for both married and single groups and were instrumental in establishing the Nearly/Newlywed Dept at their church writing much of the original curriculum.

Learn more here.