A long awaited dream fulfilled

This past week I saw the fulfillment of a dream come true for my husband. It has been a long time in the making, 30 years to be exact.

Shortly after Jeff graduated from high school he left for Air Force basic training. He did not attend college but it was always in the back of his mind to get a degree. Early in our marriage he started taking classes at night and on weekends, while working full time. Then deployments, military training, cross country moves, the birth of 4 children, and special needs entered our world. All of these events brought additional stresses. I was overwhelmed and needed him home. At that point his dream was put on the back-burner. He chose to put the needs of our family before his desire of school. 

I know it was frustrating for him but he never made me feel bad or guilty for asking him to take a break. That desire was never taken from him, just put to the side.  As things would settled down he would take a few classes and then after 20 years he earned his BS.  He was happy with that but I knew he wanted to continue. Timing was not right.  

Then 2 years ago an opportunity came for him to return to school. We talked about what how it would work into our lives and schedules and decided to go for it. This past week he received his MBA, 30 years in the making!

Sometimes life gets in the way of our dreams and desires. Jeff persevered but never let his desires get in the way of his family’s needs.  It is hard. I know I struggle with this more than he does. I tend to want to throw a fit about it before I accept it, but he takes in stride. 

Letting go of our wants, needs and desires goes against our very nature. Yet there are times we are required to make sacrifices for those we love. Especially as a parent of a special needs child we find ourselves letting go of those things we once thought we would be or do.   

Do you have a dream that you feel will never be fulfilled? Do you trust God enough to surrender it to him? If the desire of your heart is what God desires for your life he will bring it to pass. It will not be because we have pushed ourselves to the limit or scarified our families to achieve it. It will be brought forth in his perfect timing.

If it is from God it will still be there when the timing is right. It may take 3 days or 30 years for that dream to be fulfilled. We might find as time goes by God may change our dreams and desires. He may have a whole new dream for our life. Which may go far beyond what we could have imagined. 

Trust him first. Put the needs of family above our own desires and he will honor and bless that.

“Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart”! (Psalms 37:4, NAS)