If the statistics are correct, they tell a sad story: Most of us have long ago given up on our dreams. Somewhere along the way the naysayers around us or our circumstances or just the sheer difficulty of the task have caused us to lose hope and settle for what is.

But if you have just the tiniest flicker left in your soul for what could be, this remarkable and beautiful story will stir your long-forgotten dreams to life. It will remind you of what’s possible and how God’s plan is always progressing for our good even when we can't see it as it’s unfolding.

In 1989, Jeremy Miller was the young star of one of the hottest shows on TV, Growing Pains. He was pulling down $2500 a week and life was good.

Far away from the lights of Hollywood in tiny Jena, Louisiana, Brandon Phillips was at the other end of the spectrum. He was a boy struggling with a pediatric heart problem that, without help, would end his life prematurely. His family was fractured and poor, and hope had left town a long time ago.

Could there be two more different stories? And yet God was about to do something for both of these young gentlemen that would be life changing for everyone involved. In fact, the impact of the meeting continues to this very day.

The Starlight Children’s Foundation made wishes come true for kids who were struggling with serious health issues. One day, young Brandon was granted a wish, one that would change the trajectory of his life forever. He was asked who he would most like to meet in this world if the foundation could make it happen. He had always been a fan of Growing Pains. He loved the family atmosphere. He envied the life he saw portrayed there every week. He was particularly a fan of Ben Seaver, the younger and lesser-known brother played by Jeremy Miller. His wish: To meet Ben Seaver.

The meeting was arranged with Jeremy, and Brandon and his family flew out to spend a day on the set of the show and meet the stars. It turned out better than Brandon could have imagined. He met Jeremy and they had a day filled with adventure and fun. When it was over, Brandon hoped to stay in touch with Jeremy.

Instead, they lost touch for many years but the impact of that one day was life changing for Brandon. He had been told that had a learning disability and yet he went back home to Jena with hope. He was encouraged. He began to excel in school. He dreamed of being a doctor someday and helping other kids like himself find healing and help them lead a normal life.

Brandon did just that. Today he is a pediatric cardiologist in West Monroe, Louisiana. Along the way he met and worked with Dr. Denton Cooley and many other luminaries. He received awards and got the help he needed to overcome his own heart issues and soar.

While all of this was happening for Brandon, Jeremy’s life was spinning out of control. His family broke up, the show ended, and the money that he had saved from doing the show was gone. Eventually, he developed a severe drinking problem and was spiraling downward.

And, then God did what only he can do. While filming the Growing Pains reunion movie in New Orleans, Jeremy and Brandon reconnected. The movie could have been shot in any town or even anywhere in New Orleans but instead it was being filmed very near Brandon’s apartment! What were the chances of that? Apparently, 100 percent, when God is orchestrating the events.

It was a great reunion. As it always is with real friends, it felt like no time had passed at all since they had last seen each other. This meeting was fortuitous for Jeremy because Brandon saw that his friend was in trouble and was instrumental in getting him into a program that he admits most likely saved his life.

When I Wished Upon a Star (Thomas Nelson, 2019) is a reminder that no matter where we are in life that God has plans that we can't imagine and a way to make them happen for us if we only believe.