Keepers of the Dreams

Moms are the keepers of the dreams.  We have our dreams for our children.  They have their own dreams.  And then there are God's dreams for them.  As mothers, we carry all of those dreams in our hearts, closely guarding them; and we try to see with gentle guidance and direction, that those dreams all mesh together to help bring to fruition happy, fulfilled and productive lives.

I'm finally learning, now that I'm raising my 6th dreamer, that it's best to keep quiet most of the time.  If you are a mom, you know that its next to impossible to remain silent at times and to know exactly when to speak up and what to say when you do!  I've heard many a child verbalize their "pie in the sky" dreams, and their renderings of all the great and wonderful things that they are going to accomplish in their life time.  I'm ashamed to say, that my first time out of the gate as a parent, I didn't always respond or react in the most gracious way.  I was full of my own hopes and dreams for my little ones and, bless God forevermore, I was bound and determined to head them in that direction.  I don't know how my first couple of children survived my overwhelming passion and enthusiasm for making sure that the path they chose was mine.

Who knew that God would and does put dreams on the inside of little ones and with our sincere parenting and creative guidance, they can come into their own understanding of what those dreams look like to them and how they want to walk them out.

Sometimes, being the keeper of the dreams is lonely and stressful.  We quietly hold them and take them out to look at when no one is watching.  We spend a lot of time on our knees, asking God for patience and maybe for just a little glimpse of how our dreamer's life will unfold.  It's so hard to watch them take wrong steps or make choices that we know will divert them from their path for a time.  But sometimes, its those twists and turns they take, that will ensure that the hopes and plans God has for them will come to pass. 

So as you keep the dreams for your children hidden close to your heart, know that He will guide and direct their paths to the fulfillment of those dreams.  You will be able to stand back and watch with joy as they walk out their lives experiencing all that He has in store for them.