Time For Reflection

 Another year has been, and gone.

 Ever since I can remember, birthdays have meant a lot... to other people.  For me, they've just always been another ordinary day.

 All I remember of my first birthday is the pictures of me eating my cake with my fingers. O.o

 Eighth birthday, I only remember because we had my sisters party on my birthday. And, being little, I wasn't happy about it. :P

 My tenth was a party. Couldn't even tell what we did at the party.

 Eleventh we moved.

 Sixteenth I was grumpy all day, and got teased about it being "sour sixteen" instead of "sweet sixteen"

 Seventeenth was almost forgotten in making plans for my friends wedding. That was about the best birthday yet. :D

 Eighteenth... I learned not all dreams come true. Just because you have a dream doesn't mean it will one day be reality.

 Nineteenth we moved again.  And I learned even more, dreams can't always come true.  And also, that God does care about even the "little" things. 

 Now, twenty is upon me.  And looking back on this last year, I see it was anything but perfect. But God's goodness was revealed in many unexpected ways.

 This has been the hardest year of my life... but it's also been the best.  

 God has taught many things... and in trying to learn those lessons, I see just how much more there is to know, and how unequal I am to the task; but as Wallace said: "He strengthens my soul"

 No, dreams don't always come true. But when you think about it; do you really want them to? Are not God's dreams for us far better? Are they not far greater than can be imagined? 

 Proverbs 29:18
  Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. 

 I'm now seeing the difference between dreams, and having a vision.

 Dreams are fantacies of things you want, things you want to do.  A vision is knowing where you are going, what you are doing, where you will end up.  A vision is a goal. A dream is is just that... a dream. Dreams don't hold up to light.  Dreams are of the night. When the morning comes the dream goes away.

 When the morning of reality comes... dreams disappear.   It's hard to let the dreams go. It's hard to "wakeup" but it's got to be done.

 That verse has taken a whole new meaning to me of late, as I see those around me who have always had a vision, that are now losing that vision; and the person they always were, has died.  It's hard to see.  It's hard to see the life, the vision, die in your dearest friends.
 Yet, it's good to let go of the dreams.  Let go of the dreams and make room for the vision. Not the other way around. 

 The dreams are not real, and never will be.  The vision is forever. The vision gives purpose in life.

 So, as I enter my twentieth year, I will be persuing a vision. Not dreams. Not some vapor, come to pass.  But a goal for the future that will last through the ages. One I can pass on to the next generation.

 That vision is to be Christ like. "To love Christ more - this is the deepest need, the constant cry of my soul"  "To learn Christ - this is life!"

 So the next trial the Father sees fit to send, I want to be able to say as Wallace said:  "Did I believe it my Father's will that I should die at ever pore I would submit, for so His immaculate Son laid down His life for a rebellious world. And is a servant greater than his master, that I should say, Exempt me from this trial? No!" 

 This year I can say with more truth as Wallace did: "I am resigned to every dispensation of Providence"

 Let King Jesus reign! And see what He does through you.  It will be far above all that you could ask or think! :)


  In the service of my Father
             Hallie