A Dream, a Call, or Too Much Caffeine before Bedtime?

I read a form of this question at this blog. I appreciate this writer. I don't have to wade through oceans of opinions, virtual daily diaries, or mountains of nonsense. Not everything that I read grabs me, but this question did. I challenge you to read what she has to say.

Some days (many days, if I were honest) I dream of a clean house, decorated smartly, with the windows open letting sunshine cascade on my lap while I sit with a book and a cup of cranberry apple tea. Then I wake up. My house is not clean, nor is it neat. It is kid friendly and piled with books and laundry. I am often filling bottles and sippies not fancy teacups. Nevertheless, that is where the calling comes in.

This question puzzles me. Is there really a difference between God calling me and his giving me a dream? I believe there is, but how it all works out is the issue. The writer states "God places His dreams in us. And then he calls them out of us." Our dreams do not always come true.

I have always dreamed of being a mother. Kids were always a part of my life. I had them all named. Baby dolls were always on my Christmas list. I believe that God put that dream in my heart and has called me to mother. Although, I never dreamed that I would be teaching my children at home despite the fact that I am a trained educator. I have never dreamed of having more than four children in our home, yet here we are, a homeschooling foster family. He has called my family for this time in our lives to impact others whose dreams have seemed to crumble.

As the blogger points out, sometimes our callings come out of broken dreams. Ouch. That hurt. I had dreamed of birthing another child, but God called me to mother children that are not my own. I am still working on that one.

Psalms 37:4 states: Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. That is what is all comes down to. It is not my fancy dreams of material things, friendships, or family. Dreams are not wispy visions of someday, maybe, if only. It is however, allowing God's desires to work themselves out in my life. It is finding my delight in my Lord. That is my calling.

I dreamed of children. I am called to mother six (at least).

I dreamed of a wonderful husband who would meet all my needs. I am called to work alongside my husband to make our marriage the best it can be.

I dreamed of being a teacher. I am called to creatively and uniquely educate and disciple my children at home.

I don't know what else fills my dreams. Maybe I am afraid to dream. What if that is not what God wants for me? Maybe I think too much.

Maybe, someday, possibly . . .

I will dream of writing a book with my husband.

I will dream of traveling the world to see my many kids and their kids.

I will dream of working at a crisis pregnancy center to encourage young, confused, afraid girls

I will dream of developing a stronger awareness and presence of Christians in the foster care system.

For now, I will focus on what God has called me to do, today. But, a girl can dream, can't she?