Making Wishes

"If wishes were horses, then beggars would ride."

We all wish for things. We make wishes on the first star, before blowing out our birthday candles, when we toss a coin in a well or fountain, pulling on a chicken bone, and all kinds of silly things.

Children wish for a puppy or new bike. As we get older, those wishes get bigger and more complex or just impossible. We may wish for a trip around the world or to win a sweepstakes ticket or for world peace.

Our family makes Christmas wish lists. It actually started as a remedy for greed, surprisingly. Every November, a thick colorful book came in the mail; the Sears toy catalog. My kids would wear it out, dreaming and begging for things they hadn't even known existed until they saw it in that catalog. It soon became banned until after the holidays.

I decided that since I didn't always know their wishes, I'd like them to list ten things that they would like or needed for Christmas. The list had to be completed in one day, without looking at a catalog, thus showing what was already in their minds. They also knew that we had the option of giving them only one or two or even none of the items listed. (Of course, we tried to find some of the things they wanted, but always surprised them with things they didn't ask for.)

Even now, as the kids are grown, we still make lists for each other. I think it's one way to see how they are growing and changing in their interests and needs.

Do our children think to ask us or God for something, or do they ask Santa? Do our children think of prayer as wish lists? Do they hear us saying, "If it's Your will, Lord" in our prayers? Do they know that often God has something even better for us? Do they see us get upset when our prayers are not answered the way we thought they should?

"Be careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God."

How we deal with wishes and dreams should reflect how we give our requests to God. He wants to hear our thoughts and dreams, but He will fulfill the ones that are best for us.

Lord, teach us to come to you as little children. Let us trust our dreams with You, knowing that You love to hear our prayers. Teach us to believe that You, as our loving Father, will always give us what is best for us. Amen