My oldest grandson will turn five in the next couple of weeks. Back when he turned six months old, I posted a blog titled “Little Big Man” about how he was growing and changing every single day. Four and half years later, that trend continues.
These days, he runs fast, talks faster, and dreams even bigger! In fact, his most oft repeated assertion is “Look at me. I’m big!” And trust me, he means it. Though barely half my height, he sees himself every bit as big as my wife and me. And he likes to prove this by trying to show us how he can do everything we can do.
When not telling us how big he is, he likes to expound upon what all he is going to do when he gets to be a grown up. Flying planes, driving race cars, riding bucking broncos, playing ball, finding dinosaurs, catching sharks… the list grows longer with each passing day.
I do not know what all my grandson will go on to accomplish in life. But I wish him the very best. And I know in my heart that whatever it turns out to be, it will be epic!
Being small and having large dreams is something to which we can all relate. Who among us, back when we were little, did not dream about all the places we would one day go, all the people we would one day meet, and/or all the things we would one day do?
And if you, like me, actually got to see some of those dreams come true along the way, then you know just how meaningful those experiences were. But small people having big dreams awaiting fulfillment is not something that is limited to children. Sometimes the same can be said of adults.
Witness what happened to a certain Mr. Small on Saturday, October 9th of this year in College Station, Texas. There, on Kyle Field, the Aggies Football team of Texas A&M University hosted the number one ranked Crimson Tide Football team of the University of Alabama.
Few people gave the Aggies much of chance, given that the Tide has been a powerhouse, dominating NCAA College Football for much of the past decade. But lo and behold, with time all but expired and the game tied at 38 all, A&M had penetrated deep enough into Alabama territory to tee the ball up for a game-winning field goal attempt. Enter Seth Small, the Aggies place kicker.
Although a senior, his name somewhat reflects his size. By comparison to many on his team, his 5 ft, 11 inch, 200 pound frame is somewhat diminutive. Indeed, on the play in question he was surrounded by players close to a half foot taller and nearly a hundred pounds heavier.
Yet, when the ball was snapped, the kick was made, and the score was tallied, Mr. Small had suddenly become Mr. Big! In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, a lifetime of preparation met a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. On the last play of the game, he nailed a 28 yard field goal, defeating the number one team in the nation. In short, a small man stood tall! In the process, not only did his dreams come true, but so did those of the entire Aggie nation.
Do you have dreams in life? Do you hope one day to stand tall and make a difference in this world? If so, then good for you! In the meantime, get busy doing all you can to prepare for the moment when the time comes for those dreams to be fulfilled.
And trust in the Lord that in His perfect timing, He will provide just the right opportunity for that very thing to happen. After all, as the Lord told Jeremiah the Prophet (chapter 1, verse 5): “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I set you apart and appointed you…”
It is not surprising then, that the Lord would go on to speak to others through Jeremiah, saying (chapter 29, verse 11): “For I know the plans I have for you … plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
The Lord has created each and every one of us in His image. In the process, He has endowed each of us with a unique set of gifts and talents which He intends to see us use for His purposes and glory. Therefore, as we grow into maturity, it behooves us to discover and employ those skills for His glory and the benefit of our fellow man.
My grandson may or may not grow up to play ball one day. If he does, he may or may not kick a game-winning field goal on national television to knock off the number one team in the nation. But even if he never does any of these things, whatever he does do will surely be something reflective of how God chose to create him and endow him.
And as long as he chooses to use his God-given talent(s) to glorify the Lord and benefit others, he will indeed be an awfully big person.
Small wonder; but the same can be said for you and me.
SCRIPTURES:
https://biblehub.com/jeremiah/29-11.htm;
https://www.biblehub.com/jeremiah/1-5.htm.
These days, he runs fast, talks faster, and dreams even bigger! In fact, his most oft repeated assertion is “Look at me. I’m big!” And trust me, he means it. Though barely half my height, he sees himself every bit as big as my wife and me. And he likes to prove this by trying to show us how he can do everything we can do.
When not telling us how big he is, he likes to expound upon what all he is going to do when he gets to be a grown up. Flying planes, driving race cars, riding bucking broncos, playing ball, finding dinosaurs, catching sharks… the list grows longer with each passing day.
I do not know what all my grandson will go on to accomplish in life. But I wish him the very best. And I know in my heart that whatever it turns out to be, it will be epic!
Being small and having large dreams is something to which we can all relate. Who among us, back when we were little, did not dream about all the places we would one day go, all the people we would one day meet, and/or all the things we would one day do?
And if you, like me, actually got to see some of those dreams come true along the way, then you know just how meaningful those experiences were. But small people having big dreams awaiting fulfillment is not something that is limited to children. Sometimes the same can be said of adults.
Witness what happened to a certain Mr. Small on Saturday, October 9th of this year in College Station, Texas. There, on Kyle Field, the Aggies Football team of Texas A&M University hosted the number one ranked Crimson Tide Football team of the University of Alabama.
Few people gave the Aggies much of chance, given that the Tide has been a powerhouse, dominating NCAA College Football for much of the past decade. But lo and behold, with time all but expired and the game tied at 38 all, A&M had penetrated deep enough into Alabama territory to tee the ball up for a game-winning field goal attempt. Enter Seth Small, the Aggies place kicker.
Although a senior, his name somewhat reflects his size. By comparison to many on his team, his 5 ft, 11 inch, 200 pound frame is somewhat diminutive. Indeed, on the play in question he was surrounded by players close to a half foot taller and nearly a hundred pounds heavier.
Yet, when the ball was snapped, the kick was made, and the score was tallied, Mr. Small had suddenly become Mr. Big! In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, a lifetime of preparation met a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. On the last play of the game, he nailed a 28 yard field goal, defeating the number one team in the nation. In short, a small man stood tall! In the process, not only did his dreams come true, but so did those of the entire Aggie nation.
Do you have dreams in life? Do you hope one day to stand tall and make a difference in this world? If so, then good for you! In the meantime, get busy doing all you can to prepare for the moment when the time comes for those dreams to be fulfilled.
And trust in the Lord that in His perfect timing, He will provide just the right opportunity for that very thing to happen. After all, as the Lord told Jeremiah the Prophet (chapter 1, verse 5): “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I set you apart and appointed you…”
It is not surprising then, that the Lord would go on to speak to others through Jeremiah, saying (chapter 29, verse 11): “For I know the plans I have for you … plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
The Lord has created each and every one of us in His image. In the process, He has endowed each of us with a unique set of gifts and talents which He intends to see us use for His purposes and glory. Therefore, as we grow into maturity, it behooves us to discover and employ those skills for His glory and the benefit of our fellow man.
My grandson may or may not grow up to play ball one day. If he does, he may or may not kick a game-winning field goal on national television to knock off the number one team in the nation. But even if he never does any of these things, whatever he does do will surely be something reflective of how God chose to create him and endow him.
And as long as he chooses to use his God-given talent(s) to glorify the Lord and benefit others, he will indeed be an awfully big person.
Small wonder; but the same can be said for you and me.
SCRIPTURES:
https://biblehub.com/jeremiah/29-11.htm;
https://www.biblehub.com/jeremiah/1-5.htm.