On a sunny day in June, I walked through the doors of the school for the last time. I paused on the sidewalk with my arms filled with one last load of memories. Glancing quickly over my shoulder, I walked the final twenty feet to my car. I piled the last few things into the back seat, started my car and drove off.
A year and seven months later, as life moved on, school memories continue to fade from sight. Life has graciously filled in the cracks after retirement. My last day of teaching became my first day of dreaming. I found myself with dreams in my heart and a hope for the future.
For many years of my life, I have not allowed myself to dream. As a young teacher, I began building my career. Marriage came next and soon thereafter, motherhood. Two young sons don’t leave you a lot of time for dreaming. But that final walk out of school flipped a switch somewhere inside me. It triggered a fresh start, a time to start dreaming and the belief that dreams will come true. Hope for the future was attainable and realistic.
Walking out of the school doors awakened a voice inside of me that whispers, “I have so much more for you. The best is yet to come.” I leaned in to listen and catch the rhythm and promise. I believed even when life looked nothing like I first imagined it would look in retirement. My hope was the spark carrying me through interruptions and unfulfilled dreams.
Sometimes our dreaming looks like unabated hope as life around us unravels. I traveled a path that took me off road, but even that led me to right where I am today.
The times our dreams are covered by a blank canvas are the times God replaces them with endless possibilities.
If I lose my trust in second chances, God in turn creates first chances from the least expected.
When patience runs out and hope is distant, God breathes grace and peace into the fractured pieces.
If life hands us brokenness, God fills us with healing to remind us He never leaves our sides.
Dreams lead us to fulfilled promises blessed by God when they align with His path for our life.
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.
Jeremiah 29:11-12 (NIV)
God gives us immeasurably more than we can handle and much more than we deserve. Dreaming leads us closer to God when we open our heart to matching our heartbeat with His own.
May you catch yourself dreaming today and find that spark of hope for the future.
Shared by Mary Geisen
Mary, this story had me standing right on the sidewalk with you, and I’m thankful that God has given you words for the experience of moving on in faith toward a dream. Blessings to you as you persevere in Brave Faith toward the future God has mapped out for you!
I wish you had been standing on the sidewalk with me. It would have made me braver. So much life has happened since I retired but all of it has led me to where I am today.May we all walk hand in hand with God in brave faith toward the future.
You know there are some verses God gives us over and over, Jeremiah 29:11 has been mine lately. I’m holding onto His promises found in it. Thank you for your encouragement, Mary.
Jeremiah 29:11 is a verse that frequently appears for me too. I think that it has different meanings depending on what season we are in life. I pray you always feel the promise of knowing you have a hope and future in God keeps you going. So glad you stopped by Alecia!
Mary, thank you for encouraging me this morning. Jer, 29:11 has been bringing the reminder to me repeatedly that our God has the plan. I’ve been picturing Him like an architect with holding scrolls of plans in His hands, much like a blueprint. Grateful for the way you share your life as you continue to point us to live bravely and dream.
I love seeing you here Joanne! Jeremiah does a good job of reminding us that God has the plan. I know I need to hear it often. So much of our lives seems uncertain but everything is certain in Christ. Thank you for joining me as I share my life. I pray that God continues to use me through writing.
AMEN!! This line so struck me –“Dreams lead us to fulfilled promises blessed by God when they align with His path for our life.” I too left teaching both in the public school and then homeschooling my 2 boys through high school. When they graduated I felt God’s pulling to go back to school myself for counseling. At 50 that was a surprise but I am working towards that and He has blessed me with a job already as I continue in my education also. So INDEED — Dreams DO lead us to fulfilled promises!!!
Thank you for sharing a piece of your own story. Teaching is a wonderful profession. God certainly is leading you on a path of fulfilled promises. I believe this to be true and my story will continue to unfold. In the meantime I am dreaming and praying. Blessings!
Oh boy this post really resonated with me. I think we get so busy with life we forget to dream. During the winter I spend I have the opportunity to do some skiing. I find on the slopes when everything is quiet by best dreaming comes along. I just need to find a way to do this all year long.
Quiet is always good for dreaming. I’m not sure I could dream while skiing because I would be afraid of falling but I love being outdoors walking. I will pray that God keeps providing opportunities for you to dream. Thank you for being here.
I needed your words today, Mary. The reminder that greater is HE who is in me than anything else, that He is a God of all chances, where seconds and thirds can be as beautiful as firsts ( and maybe more reliable cause we are hopefully wiser), and where trusting God is the safest decision we can ever make.
Blessings friend, Thank you!
Dawn
God sure is amazing to provide what we need. God is a God of all chances and He does not keep score of how many it takes for us to follow along with His plans. I pray that as I have gotten older I am getting wiser. God certainly is patient in giving me many chances to figure it out. So glad to have you here Dawn. Blessings!
Beautiful post Mary. I’m still wondering what God’s plans for me are after the church layoff. I do love my new job and I love connecting with women through my writing. Blessings to you today my friend.
Thank you Barbie! It sounds like you are already doing some of what God has planned for you. I know I sometimes think God’s plan is supposed to be so much bigger than it is when in reality many times we are doing exactly what we are supposed to do. I pray that you know how much you make a difference here in this online world. Love you Barbie!
So glad to know He is a God of second chances. I pray I am on His journey for a dream I hold dear to my heart. A lot of heartache and trust in Him.
Isn’t freeing that God has a limitless supply of chances. He never once thinks we are not qualified, too old or not enough. Dreaming is important to discovering who we are. Without we are not striving to be all God created us to be Thank you for being here. I am praying for you as you hold onto God and keep dreaming.
I love how God puts dreams in our hearts! It’s so easy to dismiss them…too busy, too hard, too frivolous. But remembering that they are part of who the Original Dreamer is and how He created us is beautiful!
What a beautiful image to think of God as the Original Dreamer. I love that. He created us each uniquely and with a beauty that only He can dream of. God loves to see us dream and loves when we pray big for those dreams to become His dreams for us. Thank you for joining in Becky!
Hi Mary! While I’m not retired yet…I am a “successful nester.” This new stage opens up all kinds of new possibilities. Love it!
I am working on becoming a successful nester. I actually have my younger son and daughter-in-law living with me right now. I have had some practice but am looking forward to more opportunities to watch my kids fly free. This is one of the best stages in life. I am loving how life experience has gotten me here and God will keep me moving forward. Blessings!
God’s been teaching me so much about dreams this year. I love the lines you pulled out to tweet. Great sentiments to keep in mind. Happy Wednesday!
Megs
I believe that many of us don’t take the time to dream. We get caught up in daily life and think that the day to day is enough. God loves when we dream and would like nothing more than for us to share and pray for those dreams with Him. Thank you for being here today!