Three years ago, on my own blog, I wrote a post about dreams. For whatever reason, I’ve never been much of a dreamer. I guess I’m a realist, so dreaming to me equates to fantasy, things that I would love to happen, but based on calculable data (and my lack of faith), I don’t see ever coming to fruition. However, I’ve been revisiting this idea again of dreaming.
Three years ago I also made a dream jar. Around that time I had started talking to a new guy and as much as I didn’t want to base my dreams on this relationship, I did. I mean, one of the dreams I put in my jar was to have a redheaded baby. Also in my dream jar I said I wanted to marry my best friend.
Now I’m not saying these dreams aren’t good ones, but what happens when these dreams don’t come true as we so often imagine they will or like they do in the fairytales we watch as young girls?
Not long ago I had to say goodbye to that guy I mentioned. Due to things beyond our control, it was not meant for us to be happily ever after, despite how much we loved each other. This also decreased my chance of having that redheaded baby.
So what now?
I’m learning that it’s time for me to make dreams based on the idea that I may not ever get married and have children. Sure, it’s okay to continue to have those dreams, but it can’t be my end all.
Two years ago I moved to Columbia, South Carolina. Although this was never one of my dreams, a door opened, I went through it and God brought one of my dreams to fruition—I started back to school to get my counseling degree. I still have a long road to finish this degree, but it has me thinking about new dreams, new dreams that may not include a husband, kids, and a house with a white picket fence.
Recently, one of my best friends passed away unexpectedly at the young age of 40. She never married, but she lived a full life of sacrifice and service to others, specifically kids all over our community.
As I watched hundreds of people come out to celebrate her life, I was humbled and overwhelmed by the stories that were shared of how Catherine made a difference in their life. She wasn’t showy and she didn’t draw attention when she used the gifts God had given her.
Although she did have a dream to get married, she didn’t let that stop her from living her life joyfully. It’s given me a new perspective on not only how short life truly is, but how life is not meant to be taken for granted, even when it doesn’t pan out the way we had hoped.
It’s time to place new dreams in the dream jar and see what God has in store for me.
Photo by: MartaZ
