One sunny day, a man named Walt stood on a big, empty lot. All he could see was dry dirt. A lot of lots and lots of dirt.
His friend, Arthur, looked worried. “Walt, this is just dirt. Why do you want all this dirt?”
Walt smiled big. “Arthur, I’m not looking at dirt. I’m looking at what will someday sit on this dirt.” Walt’s eyes grew enormous. “Right over there, I see a castle with tall towers. I see people marching in a parade. I see animals of all kinds helping kids get onto rides. I see families smiling and laughing. This is going to be a place where dreams come true, Arthur. You watch and see.”
Arthur shook his head. “You dream big, Walt. I’ll give you that.”
“If I keep asking for help, if I keep looking for the right people who can make this happen, and if I keep knocking on the right doors, one day it will come true.”
From that day on, Walt worked on his dream. He drew pictures of castles and princes, and fairyland places. He asked people to help him. He knocked on door after door—even when those doors slammed shut in his face. When people yelled, “No! Go away!” He kept asking. He kept seeking. He kept knocking.
Walt understood something Arthur didn’t. Walt knew that small seeds grow into big, beautiful trees—even on a wide, dirt lot. He knew that if he kept asking, kept seeking, and kept knocking, the right doors would open.
And something wonderful happened.
People began to believe in Walt’s dream too. They helped him. They built things. They created a sense of wonder where there had only been dirt. Soon, Colorful buildings covered the lot. A beautiful castle rose toward the sky. Gardens grew with flowers and trees. Paths twisted and turned like an enchanted forest filled with ferns, fairies, trolls, and lots and lots of talking animals.
Then, one day—a special day—Walt opened the gates to his special lot. Families walked through holding hands. Children laughed and danced. They rode on rides and met princes and princesses. They walked under a castle that seemed to touch the clouds.
The place Walt dreamed about became real. He called it Disneyland—a place where dreams come true.
Your dreams might start small, too. But if God put that dream in your heart, then it’s His dream, too.
Jesus tells us to keep asking when we don’t get what we want at first. To keep seeking when no one believes in our dream. To keep knocking when doors shut in our face.
If God gave you the dream, then He believes in you. And that’s a special kind of magic that makes dreams come true.
Share your dream with someone today.
“Keep asking, and it will be given to you; keep seeking, and you will find; keep knocking, and it will be opened to you.” — Jesus (Matthew 7:7)
Pray this:
Dear God, thank you for putting dreams in my heart. Help me to keep asking when I need help. Help me to keep seeking when things feel hard. Help me to keep knocking when I’m locked out. And Mom or Dad aren’t home to let me in, help me remember where Mom hid the extra house key. Amen.
Sundays, you’ll find the Pirate Preacher in Moore Square, Raleigh, NC, and at the bus station. There, Team Jesus passes out food, water, chips, and cookies. We also lay hands on and pray with other so they may enjoy the abundant life Jesus promised (John 10:10). His books are read by countless inmates and used to introduce others to Christ.
The Pirate Preacher is an award-winning author of middle-grade, YA, and adult fiction who loves to surf. Send a message in a bottle to the Pirate Preacher: PiratePreacher.org@gmail.com