Daring to Dream

My sister, Crista, reading to Rags

The year was 1974 and, for months, my sister, Crista, had been begging for a dog. My Mom adamantly said, "No.  No dogs. I don't want a dog in the house, and I'd end up being the one taking care of it."

Crista kept hoping and believing we were indeed getting a dog. Don't get me wrong, I would've loved to have a dog! But, I was a realist, and I didn't want my sister to be disappointed. I kept telling her it wasn't going to happen. She backed off the idea a bit, but at least once a week, she'd broach the subject again.

What dream are you afraid to dream?

One afternoon, my Dad had an errand to run and took the whole family along. He had to go inside an office and pick up some papers. It would take a few minutes, he said, so "Why don't we all just go in?" We went inside and, when the interior door opened, out bounded a big, beautiful standard poodle. I had never seen such a dog. She had really long hair pulled up on top of her head in a ponytail. She even had earrings! My Dad said this was his friend's dog, a show dog. They put her in another room and brought in another poodle--a smaller one, with pretty black hair. No earrings, though!

Crista instinctively knew this was our dog. That never dawned on me.. I didn't dare dream he could be ours! All evidence pointed to the contrary, right? And then, my Dad said it, "This is our dog. Let's take him home."

When I think about that moment, I am transported back to a time when I experienced sheer, unadulterated joy. I jumped up and down, shed happy tears and hugged the little guy all the way home. Looking back today, it's a wonderful reminder that dreams can come true, even when the odds are against it.

We made many wonderful memories with Rags, and he paved the way for more dogs to come.

What if you had childlike faith? What if, like Crista, you believed that what what you dream about will come to pass?