As children and adults, we toss pennies, dimes, and other coins into wishing wells or fountains and make wishes for the fun of it, as a whim, tradition, or a genuine desire. We make wishes on a falling star, blowing out birthday candles, on wishbones, fallen eyelashes, and more. Oh! Don’t forget about rubbing a magic lantern or coin.
Sometimes our wishes are achievable dreams, but other times they are outside our control, and we wait and hope for them to happen.
Neither wishes nor dreams come true by coincidence, or luck, regardless of what we wish upon. Dreams and wishes require effort, providence, or both.
Some wishes are hopes and desires that may seem far-fetched, unattainable, or improbable. But that doesn’t change the fact that telling someone their wish won’t come true sounds cruel.
The human spirit wants to believe that anything is possible. If the wish isn’t possible in this life, it may come true in the afterlife. For instance, some people who don’t have arms or legs or are blind believe they will have arms to hug loved ones, walk, run, and behold all beauty in heaven.
If you could have one wish, what would be your wish?
Some wishers would think of others and say world peace, eradicating hunger, eliminating climate change, or some other world problem.
But it’s Ok to think of yourself for this wish. And it’s Ok to say the obvious.
Who wouldn’t want to be rich, famous, or powerful?
Wait a moment. These wishes: being rich, famous, and powerful can be dreams. There are millionaires and billionaires, along with famous and powerful people in the world.
So, what is the difference between a wish and a dream?
One of the differences between dreams and wishes is we pursue our dreams or ambitions but not necessarily our wishes. Dreams are things we want to accomplish or achieve in life, requiring skill, hard work, and perseverance. Wishes are our hopes and desires for something to happen that may be outside of our control.
I have a wish, and no one can tell me that my wish won’t come true. My wish isn’t a dream, although I have often dreamt about it.
I want to fly like the birds in the sky!
But more pressing wishes may include peace in Ukraine, eliminating nuclear weapons, poverty, and other causes. Such things we can only hope, pray, desire, and wait for them to happen based on God’s plans and purpose.
Many of us are familiar with this Serenity Prayer and reflect on it on occasions and situations when we feel helpless.
“God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.”
We may not be able to effect change in Ukraine individually, but we can peacefully protest and vote to influence change in America, where we live, work, and worship.
We will continue to toss pennies into wishing wells or fountains, and our wishes may be achievable dreams or extraordinary things. Whatever the case, we can pray, work hard, and trust God for both.
Be well.