Dream Big, Pray Bigger

Dream Big, Pray Bigger. These words are the gift my 15-year-old daughter gave to me for my birthday this year. On the other side of the card she told me that this was the phrase she had chosen for me as my, “inspirational quote for the year.”

As I read through the card I became teary because what followed was a list of all the things she’s watched me dream about (I tend to dream out loud), struggle through, fail at and keep pursuing. Here is what she sees… “running every day, becoming a motivational speaker, an author, a successful business owner (which you already are), traveling the world, remodeling your dream home (this touched my heart because we live in a triple wide. Not exactly my dream home but we are working with what we have.) , or watching your kids grow up right.” Towards the end, she reminded me that all dreams are worth pursuing but at the center of those dreams is God. “God has a plan and he wants us to pray and have faith if nothing else.”

She acknowledged that she doesn’t see me trying to pursue these things apart from God but wanted to encourage me for those days when I get discouraged that He is the source for the dreams and for my life. When I read her words it was like, “this is it!” This is exactly my heart,  who I am,  what makes me tick and where I want to be.

Dream Big, Pray Bigger…

I have spent so much time in the last several years trying to figure out what’s next, what am I good at, what do people that know me see as my “thing”. Do you know who I never asked? My kids. Why? Because I was afraid of what they would say. They see the day in, day out nitty-gritty of my life. The yelling, the frustration, the over chattiness (my 13-year-old son stopped me mid-sentence the other day because he was concerned about what was going to come out of my mouth. Apparently, he thinks I don’t have a filter. Go figure.) Mr. Wonderful chose me, they didn’t. They are under this roof for 18 years by no choice of their own. I never asked because I didn’t want to hear them say something negative.

To have her take the time to really look at my life, her mom’s life and point all that she sees me striving for was truly an amazing gift. She’s watching, she believes in me and she knows that I believe in a God who desires me to use my dreams to point the people I encounter along the way to his throne of grace, mercy and forgiveness.

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matt 6:33

On a side note, my son also gave me the gift of words for my birthday this year. His was no less touching or special but I howled laughing when I noted that Natalie’s card was hand painted and Bridger’s was made completely out of duct tape.

Both cards will be treasured forever.

Have A Beautiful Day My Friends!