One of the most popular and familiar Christmas songs is
I’m dreaming of a white Christmas…
Just like the ones I used to know.
Where the treetops glisten
And children listen to hear
Sleigh bells in the snow.
I’m dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write.
“May your days be merry and bright,
And may all your Christmases be white.”
I dream of a white Christmas every year. Living in the Mitten, I usually get one.
But, I have other dreams. Some are concrete-like snow on Christmas-and some are more fluid. Some dreams are material like a new camera for Christmas. Some dreams are for others…that they’d reach their full potential.
I dream of living in Europe for a year with my kids, and visiting all the historical places I have read about.
I dream about running a marathon. (this might be better categorized as a nightmare)
I dream about placing in my age group someday for one of the events in which I run, swim or bike.
I dream about two storied libraries with ladders and spiral staircases in my dream house.
I dream about living in a place that is 70 degrees all year round.
I dream about running a successful business that will make some of these other dreams more feasible.
It is good to have dreams. They give us hope and provide direction. Realized dreams give a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment and measurable progress.
Dreams tend to be in flux. The dreams I held as a teenager, or even 10 years ago, are not the same dreams I have now. Dreams change because we change. Frankly, my dreams aren’t even the same as they were earlier this year. (here)
As a Christian, it is good to remember a thing or two about our dreams…
-At the basis of every one of our dreams needs to be the foundational desire of glorifying God in everything we do. Every path we take.
-As we delight in the Lord, He gives us the desires of our hearts. (Psalm 37:4) Some people may read that verse to mean that God will give us whatever our hearts desires. I certainly think it is Biblical to realize that God gives us way more than we can ever ask or think.
(A good book to read as your contemplate your dreams is You are Made for a God Sized Dream by Holley Gerth. It is both encouraging and challenging.)
