One afternoon a few weeks ago, our seven year old son came bursting through the door from school and proclaimed, “When I grow up, I’m going to be a ghostbuster!”
A ghostbuster? Hmmmm….
I love his enthusiasm, though. And for the record, this wasn’t the first time he enthusiastically stated his chosen career field. And it differs all the time. Sometimes he wants to be a janitor, sometimes an “ice cream man.” Other times he wants to be a race car driver or policeman, and still other times he wants to make video games.
His enthusiasm was contagious as our five-year old daughter then shouted out her own career choices. Kindergarten teacher! Nursery worker! Gymnast! Mom!
At this age, their dreams are limitless. They know no boundaries. They are free to dream and be whatever they choose.
As I listened to their excitement, I found myself pondering my own childhood dreams. Honestly, I can’t even remember what I wanted to be when I grew up. I do remember singing loudly in my bedroom, writing crazy “books” as a child, and playing with my baby dolls.
But as I listened to the excitement of my children, I began wondering, “When did I stop dreaming?”
Was it in junior high as I was trying to fit in?
Was it as a senior in high school as I chose the path expected of me instead of taking a chance on something different?
Was it in college when I failed a pre-med chemistry course, thus forcing me to change my major?
Was it when I got married and had children?
Was it when I became “just” a mom?
Was it when I followed my husband all over the country as the USAF sent us to new places?
Was it when I thought I was no longer young enough or pretty enough or good enough?
When did I stop dreaming?
As busy women, we often forget to dream. Or at least I do. I spend my time working, cleaning up after children, cooking, cleaning, trying to stay fit, and by the end of the day I’m so exhausted that I forget to stop and listen to what the Lord is speaking to my heart. I forget to dream.
I love what Scripture says about dreaming. Take a look at a few verses:
“May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.” Psalm 20:4
“Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4
“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.” Proverbs 16:3
“Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:20
These scriptures are reminders that God wants to give us the desires of our heart. He wants us to seek after Him, dream big, and follow as He leads.
So friend, let me ask you:
When did you stop dreaming?
Was it when your heart got broken in high school?
Was it after years of infertility treatments?
Or after that third miscarriage?
Was it after the divorce you never asked for?
Or twenty years in a career you didn’t love?
Was it during the busyness of life when there was no time for dreams?
In the movie Chariots of Fire, Olympic runner Eric Liddell says that when we do the things we were made to do, we” feel (God’s) pleasure.”
I want to feel God’s pleasure. Don’t you? So what were you made to do?
In her book, Becoming Mom Strong, Heidi St. John lists several questions to help you figure it out:
- What am I good at?
- What activities or tasks energize me?
- What do I like to do in my free time?
- What could I teach someone else to do?
- Where are my efforts most fruitful?
I don’t know about you, but this summer as life slows down just a little, I am going to take some time to listen to God’s voice. Our dreams don’t have to be gigantic life altering things. They can be small and simple. But I’m going to start dreaming again.
And I hope you will too.
