Matthew 6:21 “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

Today we dream! We will dream of how our children turn out. We will dream of our professional path. And we will dream over our future. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. instituted this day of dreams, leading us to envision a better tomorrow. The words of his “I Have a Dream” speech remain some of the most celebrated, quoted, and revered in our nation’s history.

The year was 1963 and a quarter of a million people had gathered to hear Dr. King speak. Standing close by on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial stood a young man named George Raveling. George was inspired as he listened to Dr. King’s words. When the speech ended, this young volunteer security guard, gathered his courage and approached Dr. King. George told Dr. King how much the speech meant to him and asked if he might have his notes. At that point, Dr. King reached into his pocket, pulled out his handwritten notes, and placed them in the young man’s hand.

Today, George Raveling remains the proud owner of those iconic pages, refusing to sell them. But George has revealed to the public one very interesting fact about the notes. It seems Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech does not contain the words, “I Have a Dream,” anywhere within the entire three pages.

So, if the most iconic words were never written in the notes, from where did they come? Without a doubt, they flowed from the treasure of Dr. King’s heart. Today, decades later, this heart-treasure inspires us to visualize a more perfect world.

But long before Dr. King stood on those steps in D.C. to utter his dream, God’s heart-treasure overflowed with dreams. Our Heavenly Father dreamed we would be drawn to Him by His love and kindness (Jeremiah 31:3). He dreamed for us to accept his gift of grace and salvation (Ephesians 2: 8-9). He visualized us living a life free from the power of sin (Romans 8:1-2). And He was the first to dream we could live together in peace, free of trouble and fear (John 14:27).

So, friend, as we celebrate this day, stop to dream the dreams of our Heavenly Father and Dr. King. May we envision the beauty of living out a better tomorrow.

Father God, may our life reflect Your dreams for a blessed future.

Blessings of sweet dreams,

Rita Cochrane