How a young person can teach us to dream

How a young person can teach us to dream
Pack your bags!
June 15, 2007 - by Katie Brazelton and Ginny Holcombe
Mikey was a 4-year-old with a dream. Every day, when his preschool teacher (my friend) announced that it was free time, Mikey made a beeline for the home goods area of the classroom. He would grab a battered suitcase and fill it with carefully chosen necessities: a plate, fork, spoon, cup, food, and an old shirt. Then Mikey would struggle to latch the case closed, before setting off on his trip around the room. Every day his teacher would ask, "Where are you headed, Mikey?"
Every day she heard the same answer: "I'm going on bacation." He had never been on a vacation and the teacher knew his single mom couldn't afford to take him on one. But Mikey did not know this. He had a dream that one day he would actually get to go on a "bacation"! Mikey didn't realize it, but every single day he was envisioning his dream.
God has given each of us a dream, a glorious purpose to fulfill while we are on this earth. Too often, as we grow older, we lose sight of that dream. The cares and worries of life often blur the vision of hope God has planted in our hearts. We focus on what we do not have, instead of God's promise to provide all we need to obey him. We must refocus on God, on his power and love for us. As we seek to trust him and realize our purpose-filled dream, there are four lessons we can learn from Mikey:
Discover your dream
Mikey was only 4 years old, but he already had a clear dream of a fun and wonderful travel adventure. He wanted to experience what he had only heard about from others and seen on television. By the way, did you know that God brings people and happenings into our lives to enable us to discover our dream, the purpose we are to fulfill? Sometimes those events occur in valleys we wish we did not have to walk through. Sometimes we learn about our godly dream through relationships with difficult people. We also learn from mountaintop events and loving relationships that bring joy and laughter into our lives. God permits things to happen in our lives that will push us toward the goal he has for us. Spend time discovering your God-given dream through prayer, reading his precious Word, and fellowshipping with other believers.
Prepare yourself for your dream
Mikey did not just think about going on a vacation, he prepared for it and repeatedly made trial runs. In the creative way of a youngster, he rehearsed for it by packing his suitcase and setting off on his journey. Even though he never left the classroom, his imagination took him to wonderful and fun locations. In the same way, we can prepare ourselves for the dream God has placed in our heart. Once you discover your dream, picture yourself living it. Find out the steps you need to take on your pathway toward an exhilarating purpose in life. Ask God to open doors of opportunity that will move you closer to his dream for you. Be willing to risk, to take each step as he lights the way.
Share your dream with others
Every day, Mikey unabashedly announced his intentions to anyone who would listen. Because of his openness, other teachers, classmates, and parents began hoping his dream would come true. Even today, more than 16 years later, his teacher still thinks about Mikey and just knows he has lived his dream of a vacation at least once in his lifetime. (We've got to believe he did - with all the passion he had toward it!) When we share our dream with others, we allow them to become encouragers for our journey. In addition, we give them an opportunity to share their resources with us. People are hungry to follow and support someone with vision! Always remember that.
Never give up on your dream
Mikey's relentless determination kept his dream alive. His routine was always the same. The smile on his face and the joy in his voice never wavered. God enables us to persevere, no matter what obstacles or setbacks we face, as we pursue the dream he gives us. As we keep our eyes on him and place our hope in his promises, we grow closer to him - and closer to the fulfillment of our dream, our purpose.
God knows the perfect timing for the fulfillment of his plan for each of his children. He works behind the scenes, even when we do not know what we should do next. We can certainly find God's promise and plan for his people in Jeremiah:
"This is God's Word on the subject: 'As soon as Babylon's seventy years are up and not a day before, I'll show up and take care of you as I promised and bring you back home. I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out - plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.'" (Jeremiah 29:10-11MSG)
We need to invite the vision God wants to give us, and then pack our bags with the supplies he provides. We must set out on our journey, enlisting others who inspire us. We must walk persistently and confidently toward completing the dream God gives us. We need to learn from children like Mikey and pack a suitcase for the adventure of a lifetime!
Katie Brazelton, PhD, MDiv, MA, is the author of bestselling Pathway to Purpose for Women, along with its popular companion books: Praying for Purpose and Conversations on Purpose. She is the founder of Life Purpose Coaching Centers, International, which trains Christian men and women internationally (online and in conferences) to become Life Purpose Coaches® and Life Plan Facilitators. For years, Katie was a licensed minister at the purpose-driven Saddleback Church. Now, she is fulfilling her God-given dream of opening 200 Life Purpose Coaching Centers around the world, and she invites you to join her on that adventure. Katie is thrilled to be a first-time grandmother, who also regularly gets to enjoy her daughter, son, and daughter-in-law who all live nearby. Ginny Holcombe is a contributing author to this article. She is a Life Purpose Coach/Facilitator, Speaker, and Women's Ministry Consultant for Life Purpose Coaching Centers, Intl in Nicholasville, Kentucky. Katie and Ginny can both be reached at WomensInfo@LifePurposeCoachingCenters.com, if you reference the name of this article.