Last year I downloaded a copy of Martin Luther King Jnr’s speech delivered on August 28, 1963 at the “March on Washington.” It was titled, “I Have a Dream . . .” As I read it and then listened to it, I was intrigued as to what led this exceptional person to make this inspiring speech.  Having not grown up in the US or studied US history in detail, I am far from qualified to make any sort of analysis of the political or sociological forces at play, but there is still something magnetic about the speech. “I have a dream . . .” It got me thinking about our children and families. What is it that forms the basis for the dreams and plans and aspirations our young people (and us older ones) choose to follow and live our lives for? What does your child dream of becoming or doing, or achieving? How can we nurture those dreams and aspirations and even guide them, without us living out our own hopes in our children? I don’t really have the answers for all of that, but it does us well to think about.

One thing I do know is how important it is for us to encourage our children and each other to dream and dream big. I’m not talking about day dreaming or fanciful impossibilities, but I am talking about dreaming big. My mum was not an educated woman. In fact, I think she finished school in Year 6 and went to work in a drapery store, but I don’t know how many times she said to me, “Mark, you can do anything you put your mind to. Follow what God has for you!” Encouraging healthy dreams for our children to pursue is a very important part of our roles as parents and teachers. Encouraging our children to follow the dreams God has for them is a vital part of that. I love that verse in Jeremiah 29:11 “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.”

One thing I have noticed over my parenting time is how important it is that the dreams we help build with our children need to be focused on what we can do for others and not be sucked into the vortex of “everything is about me.” There is a certain purity in dreaming big for the benefit of others. It brings a perspective that allows gratefulness for what we have and a desire to give to those around.

As I came to towards the end of Dr King’s speech, I found this sentence, ”I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” What a wonderful dream for us to share. Notice also, that the dream is not all about him, but something which makes the lives of those around so much better.

I encourage you to discuss dreams and aspirations with your children, and maybe even others around you and help them dream big.

Have a great week “dreaming” with your kids,

Mark B