This is my dream

​I was running yesterday. Listening to a favorite Christmas song. I especially like this one the closer we get to Christmas. It speaks to the dad in me. The song is Joseph's Lullaby, by MercyMe.

The author uses the song to imagine Joseph as the father of an ordinary son - not that any son is ordinary - but in the case of Joseph - one that wasn't the son of God.

In the song, Joseph prays - and he asks - I know this kid has a lot in front of him, but can he have just one night to be my baby?

I've listened to this song hundreds of times before. But yesterday, these particular lyrics in the song hit me - they spoke to me as I was finishing up my run.

Go to sleep my Son
Go and chase Your dreams
This world can wait for one more moment
Go and sleep in peace

Listening to those words, I could imagine the scene. Joseph holding his baby, wanting to ease the burden of a child sent to absorb the burdens of an entire world. As a dad, I could feel Joseph wanting his child to have just one night of peace - one night to chase the ordinary dreams of a kid - one night to enjoy life before he had to go live life.

I've always felt that part of the song that way. But yesterday, I felt something different.

I felt the baby answer. And the baby said, dad, this IS my dream. I've come to love them all, and I can't wait to get started.

This Christmas Eve, maybe you need to hear that, too. Jesus can't wait to get started loving you. He's arriving in a manger, but he's pursuing you. You ARE his dream come true.

We all long for that at some level - to be pursued - to feel like someone's dream come true. Many of us spend an entire life wrestling with that. All the while, there's a baby in a manger dying to love you.

I haven't always believed in the love of God the way I do today. But today, I know this. Better than ever. Even when I didn't believe in that love, that love was chasing me, and pouring out on me, like I was a dream come true.

It's a beautiful thing to be finishing a run and hearing those words: this IS my dream.

I wish you all a beautiful Christmas eve.

I wish for you all the hope that comes with knowing someone has you and is dying to hold your burdens.

I wish you all the chance to go and sleep in peace. And maybe, as your eyes start to close, you'll hear - and feel... this IS my dream.