Never Stop Dreaming For Your Kids

I will never forget the moment both of my daughters were born. Words cannot describe the overwhelming joy I felt as I stood in the delivery room holding Bailey and Brynnan for the first time. I vividly recall when Bailey was born and the first time I walked the hospital hall to the nursery to view her first nap outside the womb. My wife, Amy, had slipped off to sleep. But I couldn’t—I was wired with new-daddy excitement! It was 17 years ago, but it seems like it was last week. I can see myself  gazing through the window with tear-filled eyes – I watched my daughter sleep for the first time.

As I stood there, thoughts raced through my mind. I wanted to hold my little girl again, to take her in my arms, never let go of her, and forever protect her from the outside world. I had visions of being Super Dad—never messing up, always being there for her, doing everything within my power to ensure she had the perfect life. I imagined how it would be to watch her grow, crawl, and walk and how one day she would speak her first word (which, of course, would be “Daddy”!). I smiled as I thought of her growing up, riding a bike, going to school, making friends, having parties, and eventually starting to date (when she turned twenty-seven). I took a deep breath and said, “I’m a dad. How cool is this! We are going to have so much fun!”

Do you remember a similar scene when your first child was born? Remember those little hands and feet and that cute nose? Remember how you couldn’t take your eyes off your child? Remember how you were consumed with love? Remember the hopes and dreams you had for your baby? It’s no wonder God describes Himself throughout Scripture as a parent.

Isaiah 9:6 He says He is our “Everlasting Father.” There’s no more unconditional love on earth than that of parents for their own child.

The love we feel for our children can be intoxicating.

Both of my daughters are now teens. A lot has changed since those first days. One thing remains – I keep dreaming big for them!

By dreaming big, I mean praying that my daughters will experience a life blessed with happiness, success, and God’s richest favor. I dream they will become all God wants them to be.

Do you still dream for your kids? It can be easy to stop doing so. In the hustle and flow of a busy life, little by little a dream is replaced by reality. The hope for a better tomorrow is replaced by a hope to just get through each day. But look at what this verse says about dreams and hopes for your children: “Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God” (Psalm 42:11).

Your children need you to keep dreaming for them. They need you to put your hope in God and take Him at His word.

If you’ve lost hope for their future or for your ability to guide them, remember, God hasn’t stopped working in their lives. Or, maybe your kids are doing well. Great! Keep dreaming. God has much more in store for your kids.

There are countless ways we can “dream big” for our children. Scripture is the perfect catalyst to shape these dreams. Find a few verses this week that will help you to keep dreaming big for your kids.

Read these verses every day as you dream for your kids.

Read these verses as you pray for your kids.

Read these verses with your kids.

Here’s the verses I’m reading this week for Brynnan and Bailey:

For it was You who created my inward parts
You knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I will praise You because I have been remarkably and wonderfully made.
Your works are wonderful, and I know this very well.
My bones were not hidden from You when I was made in secret,
when I was formed in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw me when I was formless;
all my days were written in Your book and planned
before a single one of them began.
– Psalm 139:13-16