Why A Mom Should Dream Small for Her Children

I realized it one morning a few years ago as I sat in the cushy leather chair by the window, a pajama-clad boy plastered to my lap—-

How the secret to a BIG life is dependent on one small thing.

Six-year-old Joshua smelled of old backyard dirt and of fresh sleepy sweat.

His knees still bore grass stains from crawling through the yard at sunset; his hair still harbored an itinerant blade of grass in its clutches.

And as we watched the sun’s pink fingers peel back the remnants of the dark before dawn, we chatted about ordinary things- school friends and soccer games, recess plans and superheroes.

The hands on the clock ticked steady, and the kids down the hall began to stir. I knew I should prod my littlest boy toward the shower before the school bus plodded up the road, but for just a moment, I wrapped my arms around my littlest boy and savored the feel of his toasty body spooned snug against mine.

His warm breath condensed into moist drops on my neck as his lips brushed against my skin. And his tousled hair tickled my chin when he tried to snuggle closer, curling his knees to his chest and tucking his head beneath my shoulder. My eyes roamed from the window to my Bible still lying open on the broad arm of the leather chair. And I glanced at the page where I’d been lingering when my early riser had padded down the hallway.

I focused once again on the Holy writ at my fingertips and leisurely re- read the words of King David to the metronome of my son’s rhythmic breathing.

“I have asked one thing from the Lord—
it’s all I seek—
to live in the Lord’s house all the days of my life,
seeing the Lord’s beauty
and constantly adoring his temple.” (Psalm 27:4, NIV).

“What does it say?” Josh murmured as he laced his slender fingers around mine and pointed to the words framed with a smudgy streak of yellow highlighter.

I repeated aloud the words I’d just consumed in silence. “I have asked one thing from the Lord—it’s all I seek—”

“Who wrote that?” my son asked, his words still slurred and sleepy.

“King David,” I replied

“The one who killed the giant?” Josh lifted his head from my shoulder and craned his neck to meet my gaze.

“That’s the one,” I answered.

“You mean the David that  I’m named after?” my Joshua David questioned, his sluggish posture now taut and alert. “The one who fought all those battles and lived in the palace and was a really really important king?”

“Yep,” I nodded, trying not to giggle at my boy’s growing enthusiasm.

“Oh,” Josh said with a reverent sigh. “That David must’ve really loved God.”

“Why do you say that?” I asked.

“‘Cause he could’ve asked for anything,” Josh said, letting a low whistle escape from his lips. “And all he asked for was more of God.”

“I have asked one thing from the Lord—it’s all I seek.”

Josh squirmed and then, in a small voice, he admitted, “I think I might have asked for something else.“

He held my gaze, almost apologetic.

“Me, too,” I whispered.

I thought about all my big dreams; the ones I entertain when I’m longing for something loftier than laundry, a life of significance beyond the sandbox. 

And I wondered if I’ve been dreaming in the wrong direction.

What if dreaming big isn’t really the secret to a large life?

What if dreaming small is the key, after all?

“I have asked one thing from the Lord—it’s all I seek.”

Inarguably, King David accomplished big things in his lifetime, yet what he sought most diligently was a small gap between God’s heart and his.

When all was said and done, the King’s greatest desire wasn’t for gain, but for loss.

And when David chose to lose himself in the Lord, he found the secret to living the life of his dreams; a life large enough to be remembered for generations to come.

“Hold me closer,” Joshua murmured, his legs twining themselves around mine.

I squeezed tighter, diminishing the space between us.

My littlest boy sighed happy.

And before I woke the rest of my clan for another day of school, I closed my eyes and asked my Heavenly Father for one small thing.