As the proud Dad of four living children – and one in Heaven – I have been amazed by some of the words that have come out of my children’s’ mouths. Thankfully, most of the time it has been a good kind of amazement.

Years ago, when our youngest daughter was four, she had one of those comments that can change lives for everyone who hears them.

Our family most years will create Dream Boards (or Dream Books) to start the year. My wife and I usually print out or cut out pictures that represent the dreams we want to come true for that year and place them into empty photo albums. In their early years, the girls would draw pictures or – with the help of a parent – cut out pictures and glue them onto their posters.

Our four-year-old, Molly Mac, had cut out the picture of a dress she wanted, and glued it to her Dream Board. Mama reminded her that she had many dresses already; as a result, she would have to work to create the income needed to buy the dress.

Molly Mac worked very hard doing extra chores (as much as a four-year-old can), in addition to the normal ones that she did as a member of our family. After a few weeks, she finally had saved up enough to buy the dress. Mama ordered it, and Molly Mac’s excitement grew.

The day finally came when the dress arrived. Joy abounded! With the wisdom that sometimes comes out of the “mouth of babes”, she uttered these words:

“I had a dream. I worked. And my dream came true!”

Wow, what a concept. She had figured out at 4 what many adults – and some members of Congress – never do. It is great to have Dreams, but if you do not back them up with Work, they do not come true.

Or, at least they should not.

I have known too many people who have had Dreams, failed to do the work, and been given the reward anyway. That makes people WEAK. That makes people unappreciative. That makes people start to expect things to come their way that they have not earned.

My challenge for you today is a simple one. Any four-year-old can do it. Here you go:

1 – Determine what you want to do with the rest of your life. 
2 – Do the necessary Work.
3 – Make your Dreams come true.

Go make it happen. I – and Molly Mac – believe in you.