Awesome post today @humanearl. I was still trying to put the last 2 posts you made to full practice, and you have brought another lovely one. This is to make me know that I need to work harder before your next post.

You know this post brings to mind the experience that happened to a friend. I believe his story is a reflection of what this post is all about, how what parents say with respect to the career choice of their children can either make or Mar them.

He wanted to be an artist. He did very well in highschool art class and His art teacher wanted Him to go to Kendal school of design in Grand Rapids. The teacher got them to accept him even though his grade point on average sucked. His teacher felt he had real talent and talked to his parents. They came to school to meet with the teacher, and they listened, but his dad said NO. He saw no future in art for him and that was that. His father said he would never succeed in it. That it would never work or amount to anything. His teacher was furious with the father for that(we bless God for our lovely teachers, they see our talents when all others don't.) . But he just accepted it and went into the Navy instead. Interestingly, everywhere he went he ended up getting special art projects from his superiors(the thing about a gift is that you can never hide, even when it is buried, it will find a way to get to the surface). He once was granted limited duty for two weeks to paint a mural size banner for a party they were throwing for theur Squadron CO who was getting transferred. They gave him anything he wanted, including an assistant and use of an officers car (they had special stickers on the bumper) to go off base and get supplies. He said he especially enjoyed how the marines at the gate had to salute him even though he was wearing an enlisted uniform. They would give him this real dirty look everytime he entered or left. He would just smile and salute them back.
From there, he got an art contract with the navy and is now into art full time, with a house a car, and a large paycheck.
His greatest joy is not these stuffs, but that he is fulfilling his purpose.
His father has apologised for not allowing him when he was younger

Am happy the way it turned out, and that's how it always does when you close your ears to all the discouragement, and pursue your purpose.