Being married to a man who is a dreamer and visionary, we talk about big dreams a lot. As we’ve had children, we’ve talked about dreaming big dreams for our children. A sense of fear seems to pervade my attempts to dream big, even for our children. It’s not a fear of my own lack of success, but a fear that we might set them up to possibly fail. Not intentionally, of course, but along with my own fear of failure, I think I project that onto my dreaming for them.

Dreaming Big Dreams

Yesterday I shared about dreaming big dreams and a few requests that I made of God at the beginning of my blogging journey. Were my dreams big enough? It seems that I dream with some fear attached to it - a fear of failure. It’s completely self-inflicted because my parents were wonderful at encouraging my pursuits. I think the fear came with my own notion that “perfection” is the goal. How wrong that was! I think I’m so goal-oriented that “dream” and “goal” have been interchangeable in my own mind, and I realize they should not always be used in the same manner. I’m working to change that.

Dreaming Big Dreams {For Our Children}

I’ve watched as my husband has spent time with our children, sharing some of his dreams for them. His way of thinking is so opposite of mine sometimes (ok, maybe a lot of the time!), but he conveys his dreams for them with no fear attached. He has a way of making dreams, goals, and achievement seem exciting! He also has a wonderful ability to convey how to achieve those dreams. But, he doesn’t consider failure attached to a dream - he just sees the dream as an ultimate possibility.

My own recovering-perfectionist spirit used to try to remind him that he may be setting them up for failure by sharing some of his big dreams for them.

He has never accepted the idea that he may be setting them up for failure. (Wise man!)

He has reminded me that if we don’t teach our children to dream, we are, in essence, telling them that mediocrity is okay.

What a great lesson for him to remind me of - mediocrity is not the goal. And just as we sat with them through attempts at talking, walking, bike-riding, schooling, we need to sit with them at their attempts to learn to do their best. And even in their attempts to learn to dream big dreams.

We’re learning - and some of you seasoned parents already know this - that we have to open our children’s eyes to possibilities for what they can do in life. As they grow into their gifts and talents, then their likes and dislikes, and strengths and weaknesses, will begin to shine through, and we’ll be better-equipped to know what direction to guide them. We also have to continue to remind them to be following what they feel God has for them. Making life-choices should always start and end with prayer.

My husband has been providing a good example of what I mean by opening our children’s eyes to the possibilities of what they can do. Our kids are all musically inclined. Our oldest, nicknamed Mozart because, well, it fits, has been taking piano lessons for over 5 years now. And he’s good. (Must brag a little!)

When he was younger, there was a little discussion of continuing to take lessons, and maybe working toward music as a big part of his life. As he has gotten older, their discussion has become more fine-tuned to various things he can do with his gift and talent if he continues to pursue it - composing, teaching, musical groups, things like that. We’ve also shared more piano music with him, so that he can hear some of the best pianists at work!

Dreaming His Own Dream

The result has been that we now have a teenager who has a better grasp on what he wants to do with his life.

His intent is to pursue music through high school and college. I love that!

But do you know what I love even more? He knows what he needs to do to reach that goal.

And that’s what I love most: He’s doing what he needs to do to take steps toward achieving his goal! His practice time has increased substantially. His effort is matching his practice time - he is working hard!

Big Dreams and Big Prayer

As Tim and I dream big dreams for our children, we’re able to share those with them and teach them the steps to take in dreaming their own big dreams. Our prayers for them take on new depth as we pray for them to always hear God louder than anything else (even us!), and that they would stay close to Jesus and share His love with those along their path.

And if I’m being bold, then I’ll let you in on a bit of our dream and say this:
We hope to see you at a concert hall someday
where our Mozart will play from the music of the Mozart, to many eager hearts!

In case you missed the previous post:
Part 1: Dream Big Dreams
and you can also find
Part 3: God’s Big Dreams {For Your Life}

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