Dare to Dream!
Hi Family!
So I was just talking to a friend a couple of hours ago about all the things we've done for our kids that encourage them to dream and give them permission to dream without restrictions. Christmas time seems to always be that time where adults and kids alike tend to go out their way and try to believe. I remember a Christmas when my children were much younger I went all out after they had gone to bed. I brought out all of the presents and strategically placed them all over our living room. Packages and ribbons and bows everywhere!! That for me is pretty normal, but that year the kids and I made sure to make the cookies and warm milk for Santa. We were even thoughtful enough to leave a magical glittery treat outside for the reindeer as well.
After all of it was set up, my ex-husband crept out the back door to the front of the house, with all sorts of bells and wearing hard boots. He made sure to make joyful Santa and reindeer sounds all over the house, especially by the kids bedroom. I ran into the room "ready to fuss" about the kids making noise playing in the room and I woke them to ask "were you guys just playing??". When they responded that they were asleep, I made sure to alert them to the bells and commotion outside and their smiles appeared as if we just won the lottery!!
We all crawled into one bed and listened anxiously to "Santa and his Reindeer" at work! We needed to be sure that Santa didn't realize that we were awake! After a few moments my ex-husband walked into the kids room (of course to signal that he was done doing all that I had asked him 😂) and asked "What ya'll doing in here? What's going on?" He pretended to never have heard anything. The kids were SHOCKED AND AMAZED!! We slowly crept out of the bedroom and went toward the living room and...... 😁
Well, it about brought tears to my eyes to see the joy and excitement they had when the realized that "Santa actually came"! And they heard him!! And he had left them gifts!!! I remember that was the year they got their bikes. A pink and a blue. With a big giant bow on each, a matching helmet and pads.
After they calmed down a moment, the remembered to check for the cookies, and found that a cookie was missing! Santa ate a cookie!!!! Then they said what about the reindeer!!! We all ran to the front door and opened it and found that half of the glittery magical food was spilled and it was MUCH less than what they remembered putting in the bowl! They HAD to have eaten the food too!!!!
I will never forget that day. Giving my kids permission at that age (around 4 and 6), to dream to that level and believe in something other than the sadness they find in the world was a wonderful escape. It brought an excitement and built them up with a joy that so many other kids don't get in their youth.
God wants me to remind you that we, just like our kids, can dare to dream as well. As we mature in age and get out of the Santa phase and realize the REAL meaning of Christmas, somehow, we lose the desire to dream those big dreams. Somehow, we are so entranced with the realities of the evil and challenges that truly exist in the world, that we never give God a chance to show us that He is bigger than the Santa we had come to know as children. That He can provide more than just gifts on a single day while you are asleep. That He can do more than just make your ends meet. That God can do more for you on June 16th than Santa could have ever done on Christmas morning. You see, Santa gets 364 days off. But God never takes a day off. He doesn't take a minute off. He is always waiting to hear from you with those gifts you are looking for. The ones you stopped dreaming about so long ago. God wants to hear about that family you always longed to have. He wants to hear about that career you thought could not happen. He wants to hear about that business you've always thought was out of your reach. He wants to hear about the love you desire to give someone special. He wants to hear about the security you long to have as a head of your house. He wants to hear about your fears, that you are sick of feeling. He wants to hear about your pains and sickness that you are tired of feeling. He wants to hear about your struggles that you are overwhelmed of carrying.
You see, God, Our Father, Abba, Alpha & Omega, is bigger than any Santa you could ever know. And He wants to give you so much more than Santa can ever give you. But He wants to give it to you year round, starting right now. All you have to do is open your mouth and speak these words.....
Father, I am sorry. I repent of my sins. I'm tired of carrying this all as if I can do it on my own. I know that I need your help. I don't know how to do this, but I want to take a chance and let you show me Your ways. I know it won't be easy, and I might get lost along the way, but I ask that you always show me where you are so that I can easily find you again and try again. In Jesus Name, Amen
Now, I can tell you, if you said that prayer and you really did mean it, watch out. God is about to reveal himself to you soon. But if you don't feel like you meant it, don't feel any kind of condemnation about it. Maybe it's not time for you. God will wait for you, just like He waited for me. Just know that He loves you, more than your parent loves you. More than your grandparent loves you. More than your spouse loves you. More than anyone can ever love you.
Dare to Dream right now.
Be Blessed!!! I love you all!!!
Ana
So I was just talking to a friend a couple of hours ago about all the things we've done for our kids that encourage them to dream and give them permission to dream without restrictions. Christmas time seems to always be that time where adults and kids alike tend to go out their way and try to believe. I remember a Christmas when my children were much younger I went all out after they had gone to bed. I brought out all of the presents and strategically placed them all over our living room. Packages and ribbons and bows everywhere!! That for me is pretty normal, but that year the kids and I made sure to make the cookies and warm milk for Santa. We were even thoughtful enough to leave a magical glittery treat outside for the reindeer as well.
After all of it was set up, my ex-husband crept out the back door to the front of the house, with all sorts of bells and wearing hard boots. He made sure to make joyful Santa and reindeer sounds all over the house, especially by the kids bedroom. I ran into the room "ready to fuss" about the kids making noise playing in the room and I woke them to ask "were you guys just playing??". When they responded that they were asleep, I made sure to alert them to the bells and commotion outside and their smiles appeared as if we just won the lottery!!
We all crawled into one bed and listened anxiously to "Santa and his Reindeer" at work! We needed to be sure that Santa didn't realize that we were awake! After a few moments my ex-husband walked into the kids room (of course to signal that he was done doing all that I had asked him 😂) and asked "What ya'll doing in here? What's going on?" He pretended to never have heard anything. The kids were SHOCKED AND AMAZED!! We slowly crept out of the bedroom and went toward the living room and...... 😁
Well, it about brought tears to my eyes to see the joy and excitement they had when the realized that "Santa actually came"! And they heard him!! And he had left them gifts!!! I remember that was the year they got their bikes. A pink and a blue. With a big giant bow on each, a matching helmet and pads.
After they calmed down a moment, the remembered to check for the cookies, and found that a cookie was missing! Santa ate a cookie!!!! Then they said what about the reindeer!!! We all ran to the front door and opened it and found that half of the glittery magical food was spilled and it was MUCH less than what they remembered putting in the bowl! They HAD to have eaten the food too!!!!
I will never forget that day. Giving my kids permission at that age (around 4 and 6), to dream to that level and believe in something other than the sadness they find in the world was a wonderful escape. It brought an excitement and built them up with a joy that so many other kids don't get in their youth.
God wants me to remind you that we, just like our kids, can dare to dream as well. As we mature in age and get out of the Santa phase and realize the REAL meaning of Christmas, somehow, we lose the desire to dream those big dreams. Somehow, we are so entranced with the realities of the evil and challenges that truly exist in the world, that we never give God a chance to show us that He is bigger than the Santa we had come to know as children. That He can provide more than just gifts on a single day while you are asleep. That He can do more than just make your ends meet. That God can do more for you on June 16th than Santa could have ever done on Christmas morning. You see, Santa gets 364 days off. But God never takes a day off. He doesn't take a minute off. He is always waiting to hear from you with those gifts you are looking for. The ones you stopped dreaming about so long ago. God wants to hear about that family you always longed to have. He wants to hear about that career you thought could not happen. He wants to hear about that business you've always thought was out of your reach. He wants to hear about the love you desire to give someone special. He wants to hear about the security you long to have as a head of your house. He wants to hear about your fears, that you are sick of feeling. He wants to hear about your pains and sickness that you are tired of feeling. He wants to hear about your struggles that you are overwhelmed of carrying.
You see, God, Our Father, Abba, Alpha & Omega, is bigger than any Santa you could ever know. And He wants to give you so much more than Santa can ever give you. But He wants to give it to you year round, starting right now. All you have to do is open your mouth and speak these words.....
Father, I am sorry. I repent of my sins. I'm tired of carrying this all as if I can do it on my own. I know that I need your help. I don't know how to do this, but I want to take a chance and let you show me Your ways. I know it won't be easy, and I might get lost along the way, but I ask that you always show me where you are so that I can easily find you again and try again. In Jesus Name, Amen
Now, I can tell you, if you said that prayer and you really did mean it, watch out. God is about to reveal himself to you soon. But if you don't feel like you meant it, don't feel any kind of condemnation about it. Maybe it's not time for you. God will wait for you, just like He waited for me. Just know that He loves you, more than your parent loves you. More than your grandparent loves you. More than your spouse loves you. More than anyone can ever love you.
Dare to Dream right now.
Be Blessed!!! I love you all!!!
Ana
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