It’s day 9 of Stacy Hoyt’s 12 Days Of Christmas Blog Hop. Today, the prompt is stories. And I have a tale for you.
Gather ‘round children. I have a tale for you. A tale of forgotten dreams, a lost soul and an aching heart. Listen carefully, as I share this tale with you.
It’s the story of a boy who wrote stories, big and small. Drew airplanes, cars and spaceships. He drew flowers too. He loved to play the piano, in his family’s home. And he loved to sing. Not unlike many of you.
As the boy grew older his friends started asking him, “What are you going to be when you grow up? What are you going to do to make a living? It’s good that you can write. Don’t ever stop. But what are you going to do with your life?”
As he grew older, he stopped singing. One day in church he closed the hymnal and never sang another word. He stopped drawing for he knew his artwork wasn’t good enough for him to earn a living with. He even put down his paper and pen, and never wrote anything again.
He went to college, got a job, and went to work. Like people do. He took care of his family, bought them a house, and a car. He gave his wife, daughter and son everything they asked for.
But he never, ever smiled. He was a good grown up. A success in life.
Then one day, he heard a song.
I’ll be great becoming
Someone I’ll adore
Let me reach my destiny
The life I’ve failed before
Transform me in the image of
What I’d rather be
Open me and pour in
What you want from me
He cried. For the song described his life, and how he’d thrown himself away to become just like everyone else.
Please go enjoy the rest of the stories in the blog hop. There are some really gifted writers out there. It’s well worth reading their work. You can find the other entries here:
My Soul's Tears 
As I’ve said, you draw on real life for your work and what a sad poignant tale this is, about giving things up to be what we’re supposed to be. Sad, chilling, but a path we can yet turn from. A lovely tale of loss.
I’d almost be tempted to say “greater love hath no man” … self sacrifice is very under-rated in this day and age but so many people (not just men) have to do it. Wonderfully moving
I just hope that the song prompts him to go back to his ‘normal’ life and shake things up. Great writing, so moving 🙂
But there is still time! Surely there is still time! Very poignant every man story… too many people go this route, not realising it’s possible to provide and to explore your own dreams.
Like Laura said, heed the song! We all do it, and then feel selfish if we aim for our own desires, but we all need fulfillment! Beautiful, as always Mark.
Wonderful writing!