Unrealized Dreams (Part 2)

As I've read through the responses, and contemplated a little more of this "unrealized dream" God has reminded me of something important that I like to ignore when I get nostalgic about the past: I wouldn't change a thing.
Let me explain - first, I've realized that giving up swimming was an act of obedience. I clearly felt as if it was something I needed to turn over to God and let him choose whether or not to give it back. Yes, God is the giver of good gifts and many of those are to be used to his glory, but he also often asks for sacrifice. When Elijah called Elisha to replace him as a prophet in Israel, sacrifice was involved (1 Kings 12:12-20). Regardless of God's gifting, I have to trust him that when he says something, that is the best. There is no better path.
Second, in giving up swimming and following as God leads I know him better. This is partly because of the initial obedience, but it's much more so because of the path that he has led me since I gave up swimming. He led me on a path where I learned of suffering. It is said that Christ learned obedience through suffering (Hebrews 5:8) and I don't think I would have learned of God as I have without this suffering. Knowing and delighting in God is far better then to continue in a gifting he has given me.
Third, I believe my heavenly reward will be greater. I believe through God's sovereign directing, he has provided me more opportunities of Matthew 6:19-21:
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
I want my treasure, my delight, to be in Christ, my Lord, and nothing else. I often fail here. I often (especially when seeing earthly glory) get caught up in what could have been, in what could have been beautiful on this earth. God, by his grace, constantly brings me back to his heart, to his perspective - it's truly about him and his glory. Taking the path where I allow some earthly dreams to be unrealized, I believe that my time (eternity!!) in heaven will be sweeter then if I had lived this life focused on my wants and needs.
Learning to live with open hands - that God may give and take away - is challenging, but nothing could be better then learning to know him more and delight in him forever.