by Krystal Mattox, DDS

I have personally lived my life pursing one goal after another. I doubt I am alone in this mindset. Maybe it is the goal of attaining high grades, getting into dental school, graduating dental school, getting married and having children by a certain age, buying a practice and becoming a practice owner, having certain possessions (car, boat, house etc.), being the dentist everyone likes, attaining a certain bonus and the list goes on. Once we have attained a goal, we are often looking and striving to attain a bigger goal.

Unfortunately, we can run the risk of missing out on today's blessings-the things God has given us to enjoy now like family, friends, the weather, etc.-in chasing tomorrow's success. Goals are not inherently terrible; after all, how can you know where you are going without first deciding on what you are trying to accomplish? I once heard a story of a man riding a horse, and a passerby asked, "Where are you going?" The rider responded, "I don't know, ask the horse!" We can all agree that is no way to live our lives. However, if our worth is defined by attaining a goal, then that's when it becomes dangerous. We can be despondent and crushed if we never achieve our desires or if it did not turn out exactly how we had envisioned.

I implore you to continue to strive for excellence in all you do! And whatever your heart is set on achieving, continue to allow the Lord to have center stage, making sure He approves. Very often it is rarely about the goal we have set, rather the journey of attaining it. I find that whether I am successful or stricken with disappointment, I am most proud of the character I have built in the process.

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

"Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand" (Proverbs 19:21, ESV).

Selah