I remember vividly the day I realized my calling to parent my children was also a calling to be the keeper of their dreams. Dreams which began as a passing glimmer in their hearts and required vigil and nourishing. The kind of dreams that shape a soul and a future. And the kind that can’t be accomplished in a young and tender heart without the gentle coming alongside of a parent.
~a 10 year old’s passion for european history grew from a desire to connect with his Scottish heritage and play the bagpipes
~a 9 year old’s passion for worship ministry grew from a desire to play the guitar and sing like a rock star
~a 9 year old’s passion for biology grew from a desire to own and draw every animal possible
Each dream unique yet each equally profound in its potential to shape a life for a lifetime. It didn’t matter that I didn’t have the entire picture of what these dreams meant. What mattered was that I could see the big picture of all they could mean.
The one thing I was called to do was steward these dreams. To safeguard when their childlike curiosity called for them to explore. To preserve in the midst of difficult setbacks…sustain when the responsibilities of growing threatened to choke out passion. And advocate long before their voices could speak life into their own dream.
Being a Keeper of Dreams is choosing to steward the God-given gifts of our child’s heart.
[bctt tweet=”Steward a child’s dream and watch God transform that dream into a passion and a future.” username=”CrystalTwaddell”]
It doesn’t mean we have all the answers or even that we know how to get them where they need to go. It means being willing to incubate the dream, entrust it to the Lord and invest for the long haul.
When the dream becomes too difficult, we become the motivator. When failure threatens to knock them down, we lift their heads and strengthen their hearts. Through the “why me?” moments and the “how come?” bumps in the road, we help them focus on the big picture and how each and every pixel matters…even if we don’t know how or why.
Encourage them to Dream Big.
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us…” Ephesians 3:20
Teach them to Believe in God’s Purpose for them.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6
Practice the Value of Connecting Life’s Dots
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[a] have been called according to his purpose.” Rom. 8:28
Help them Navigate Failure
“One thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead.” Phil. 3:13
Focus their Efforts and Concentrations
Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Proverbs 4:25
Ground them in the Giver of Hope
“Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4
When life knocks them down, we’re already there, offering comfort and safety and guidance through the rough terrain. Because we know the value of keeping our head above the waves…
we train them to look to the One who walks on the waves.
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[bctt tweet=” Sharing our #blogs on #FreshMarketFriday #linkup! Today: Stewarding Your Child’s Dreams” username=”CrystalTwaddell”]
Do you need to catch up on posts you’ve missed from the Parenting in Hope Series? Just click on the pictures and enjoy!