It’s Time To Remove The Restrictions Off Our Dreams

This post is timely for this girl right over here. ========>

Could it be timely for you too?

It’s time to dream again. It’s time to remove the restrictions.

I don’t know how yours got there, or who put them there. But it’s likely these restrictions are holding us back. Are our dreams appearing to be too big? Do they seem unreal, impossible, unattainable? Will they take too much time… time neither you or I have? Are we believing excuses instead of believing in the dream?

My restrictions are probably different than yours. Mine have to do with my lessons from the past. I can’t begin to count the number of dreams that have fluttered through my mind in my years. Some of them were real. Some were fleeting. Most of them were self-serving… dreams like having a bigger home, more money, fancy jewelry and clothes. Nothing is wrong with those dreams, however, until they take the place of God in one’s life. Sadly, I let them do just that.

These former years are fresh in my mind, as I’m preparing to share a piece of my story in a sermon at church this Sunday. God taught me much through failed dreams and goals back then. Those lessons remain real today.

He allowed me to understand there’s more to life than self-serving dreams.

God began a work of transformation on my heart and in my life. But, through that process, I stopped dreaming all together. I really don’t know why. Maybe I was scared. Or maybe I didn’t want to “fail” one more time. Or maybe I didn’t think I needed to (or shouldn’t) anymore.

In the last decade, like testing the temperature of pool water with my big toe, I tested the waters to see if it was safe to dream again. I didn’t want my dreams to be selfish. But, I put myself out there, and shakily pursued my writing dream. What I found was, the dreams I held were no longer just for me.

Sometimes our dreams aren’t just for us, but are for someone else too.

My son is a photographer. He posted a photo he took of me this week with these words, “I’m so proud of you for following your dreams of writing and blogging for a living. You have set an example that I can follow for the rest of my life.”

Isn’t that interesting?! What if I wouldn’t have ventured out and let myself dream again? What if I thought they were unattainable, unrealistic, impossible? (I still struggle with these thoughts at times.) What if I continued in my self-serving ways, and only cared about how my dreams benefited me?

Little did I know my dreams of writing and blogging weren’t (and aren’t) just for me. They are also for those around me, namely my son. I didn’t know he was watching. I wasn’t aware I might be an earthly example for him in following one’s dreams.

Friend, what restrictions have you placed on you and your dreams? Do your dreams sound too big? Do they seem a bit crazy? Do you feel they’re selfish? Have you, like me, stopped dreaming all together? Others in your life need to see you dreaming. They need to see you taking the restrictions off your dreams. You might be the encouragement someone else needs.

God might have placed that dream in your heart, to bless Him and to bless others.

And if we allow the restrictions to win, that blessing will be missed.

Dare to dream again, and to remove the restrictions. Let’s dare to live fully today.

Blessings!

Julie

 

 

Linking this post with Suzie Eller.