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 \u201cnational debt\u201d 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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 \u201cwink\u201d then, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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 \u2014 and I got one! I\u2019m 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAre being a psychologist and a Christian mutually exclusive?\u201d He thought deeply for a moment and with measured words, he said, \u201cThey 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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, \u201cWait.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
From that point forward, every job\/position I delved into \u2014 classroom instruction, my own business as a designer, corporate trainer, non-profit trainer \u2014 had an underpinning of counsel and advice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u2019s 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!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
DTS gives you 7 years to complete your program (a lot of people go parttime) \u2014and Ron and I were both 73 at the time. We calculated we\u2019d be 80 when I got my degree. He turned to me and asked, \u201cSo, how are you getting across the stage to get your degree, on a walker or am I pushing you in a wheelchair?\u201d To which I replied, \u201cI don\u2019t care as long as I get across that stage.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
December 2023, I finished my last course of study, and I now have my degree. I have been part of my church\u2019s counseling department since my practicum studies and will apply once I receive my license. Winter graduates don\u2019t walk until the Spring \u2014 which means so get to cross the stage one week after my 79th<\/sup> birthday. And here\u2019s another Godwink \u2014 2024 is DTS\u2019 100th<\/sup> anniversary, so they have all sorts of special events planned \u2014 just in time for MY graduation! Wink, Wink. Thank you, Father.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps<\/em>\u201d (Proverbs 16:9<\/strong>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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