DAILY DOSE OF HOPE – BLOG – NAIMA LETT
NEVER TOO LATE TO FOLLOW OUR DREAMS
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Two-time Emmy Award-winning actress Kathryn Joosten (best known as nosy neighbor Karen McKluskey on Desperate Housewives) passed last Friday after a long battle with lung cancer. She was 72. What most people don’t know is that Kathryn decided to become an actress at the age of 42. That’s right!
It’s reported that Ms. Kathryn made a career change from a psychiatric nurse to a community theater actress at the age of 42! Then, she moved to Hollywood to pursue television and film at the age of 56. Within 3-4 years, she landed the notable recurring role of the President’s secretary on West Wing when she was just shy of 60. At 66, she won her first Emmy Award for Desperate Housewives and she won her second in 2008, so she would’ve been what- 69?!
It’s never too late, Fam!
What is for you is for you.
Kathryn is not alone. Morgan Freeman, 75, became “Morgan Freeman” at the age of 50 when he gained notoriety in Driving Miss Daisy. Betty White, 90, is working more now than ever before – two television shows, films, Super Bowl commercials! I met her agent recently and he’s having a ball trying to keep up with her.
Fam, if you feel like time is not on your side, I challenge you today to think again.
It’s never too late!
Look at Moses.
The first 40 years of his life was in Pharaoh’s palace in Egypt. Then, he killed an Egyptian guard and became a fugitive on the backside of a desert for the next 40 years. At the age of 80, yes 8-0, Moses was called by God to deliver God’s people from Egypt and then lead them around the desert for another 40 years.
EXODUS 3 is fascinating.
If you have time to read it, please do.
Moses responds to God’s calling, at age 80, as many of us do at 20, 30, 40, 50. He asks God:
“Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”
God didn’t ask Moses, “Who are you?”
God said, “I’ve heard the cry of my people. Go tell Pharaoh to let them go.”
In other words, “Go meet the need.”
I don’t know what you’ve got going on today and what God has called you to do and what you dream of doing, but it’s probably best to start with eyes on God, not on ourselves.
This passage is so rich, and I don’t have all the time to unpack it. But I hope that you’re encouraged today, especially by Kathryn’s life.
Kathryn launched out at 42 and moved to Hollywood at 56. She quit smoking when she was diagnosed with cancer the first time back in 2001, and kept on working. She conquered the first go round, and she became a spokesperson and fought til the end. She even was so courageous as to die of cancer on the finale of Desperate Housewives just weeks before her real life departure. Thank you Kathryn for sharing your journey with the world. Our prayers are with your loved ones.
Fam, it doesn’t matter how old we are.
It’s never too late to follow our dreams.
It’s never too late to fulfill God’s calling.
Go forth!
Naima
WOW!!
Wow, indeed, Hanno! She has a very encouraging story.
This is very inspiring! At the age of forty the Lord revealed to me His plans for me to return to college and get my BA in Digital Film Making and Video Production. Although I had my doubts about my own abilities, I never doubted God’s ability. My first semester I worked hard and earned a whopping 4.0 GPA. Shortly after I ran into financial distress and had to put my education on hold. Truthfully, I was beginning to resolve in my mind that I was wrong and that it must not have been the Lord’s will for me to return to school. But my rationalizing never changed God’s divine purpose and plans for my life. I’m 42 now and just last week I re-enrolled for college! I am determined to be exactly where God wants me and am fully trusting Him to handle any obstacles that may try to stop me.
Psalms 3:5-6 says it best. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths.
God bless you Naima. I am thankful to God that He is using you to speak to the world and offer encouragement through His word.
Congratulations, LaTrece. That’s pretty amazing. So happy for you! Do it! Do it!
So inspiring; it adds fuel to my fire and gives me renewed faith & hope.
Thank you
You’re welcome, Anita!
All the best as you journey forward.
Go forth!