The Star in My Pocket

Years ago, a high school classmate gifted me a book called Catch a Falling Star by Cristina Pantoja Hidalgo. Although it was a coming-of-age story, what lingered with me most was simply its title.

To the classmate who gave me this book: thank you. I’m still holding on to that star.

Catch a Falling Star. The title is inspired by an old Perry Como song: “Catch a falling star and put it in your pocket, never let it fade away…”

The idea of catching a falling star and keeping it close—so you always have a little light when you need it—captivated me. Perhaps it resonated because, in some way, we all carry a star in our pocket: a dream. It’s something we quietly hope for, even if it seems impossible, impractical, too late, or out of reach.

I have dreams, too. Some have changed over the years, some I’ve outgrown, some I’ve achieved, and some have remained—stubborn and patient—refusing to disappear, no matter what life brought.

I kept my star through disappointments, detours, closed doors, wrong turns, and seasons when life stood still. Sometimes, I almost forgot it was there. But faith has a beautiful way of reminding us that a dream delayed is not a dream denied. Some things simply require time—not because they’re impossible, but because we’re still becoming the person who will know what to do when the dream finally arrives.

Life is short, but that shouldn’t scare us into giving up our dreams. If anything, it should remind us not to postpone living them. Hope has no expiration date. There’s no rule that says dreams are only for the young, the lucky, the fearless, or those whose lives followed a perfect path. Sometimes, the most meaningful dreams are the ones we reach after we’ve lived enough to understand their true worth.

Today, the star in my pocket glows a little brighter. I am one step closer to a dream—not there yet, just one step away. That’s why this moment feels so precious. I can see the possibility ahead, but I also know enough not to take anything for granted.

So I hold that little star a bit tighter—but never so tightly that I crush the life out of it. Dreams need determination, but they also need room to breathe. They require work, courage, patience, and above all, faith.

I’m sharing this not because my dream has already come true, but because I’m still on the journey—and maybe someone reading this has a star tucked away, too.

Maybe your star is enormous. Maybe it’s something small that means everything to you. Maybe you’ve carried it for thirty years, or maybe you found it yesterday. Maybe life convinced you to put it away—because you’ve been busy surviving, raising a family, building a career, paying bills, caring for others, or just getting through one hard season after another.

Take out your star once in a while. See if it still shines. If it doesn’t, don’t be embarrassed to dream again. Pray for it. Work toward it. Take the next step, however small. Let life surprise you with what’s still possible.

We’re never promised that every dream will come true exactly as we imagined. Sometimes, God redirects us. Sometimes, the road takes longer than we hoped.

But I’d rather reach the end of my journey knowing I kept my star than spend my life wondering what might have happened if I’d let it fade away.

Keep your star. Protect it. Believe in it. And when life tells you you’re too old, too late, too ordinary, or too far behind, put your hand in your pocket and remind yourself: It’s still there. Mine is. And today, it’s shining brighter than ever.