The Dream...
It was a cold winter day as I sat in my favorite cozy, overstuffed chair by the fireplace. A cup of hot chocolate was warming my tummy and my hands. I sure was feeling great! Mentally and physically I was sharp as a tack! I wrapped the afgan my mother had made me 25 years ago around me so I could enjoy warming up even more. I sat there gazing out the large glass windows at the snowy landscape. How beautiful the trees and houses looked. It was picture perfect. My gaze fell upon the fire that was crackleing in front of me. It made me feel so comfortable and relaxed.
I sat stareing and my mind wandred to the events from the night before. I had been really struggeling with my life and all that was going on. My mother had went home to the LORD at the beginging of this year. That was a tuff one. I was very close to Mom, she and I were close as two sisters. I had no regrets other then, I would not hold her anymore. We had a good relationship. Her departure was sudden and unexpected. She was here one day, then gone with JESUS the next. I missed here terribly, but knew she was happy where she was. As far as relationships, I had many. None were lasting. My job or career as a writer...definitly lacking! Maybe I was in the wrong carreer?? My life had seemed dull and missing something, but I didn't have a clue as to what.
The fire was burning higher now, really throwing off some heat. Boy, it sure felt good. I was feeling woozy. My mind wandered back to last night again, remembering every event that took place. My friend Sarah had stopped by. As we sat talking about my dull and useless life, she suggested that I go to church with her that night for the service. She said how great her Pastor was, Pastor Woody she called him. Sarah said, "What do you have to lose?" That was true, I had nothing to do anyway and so I agreed. We got ready and off we went in her Jeep. The snow is tuff to get about in this time of year, a Jeep is great, and you never get stuck.
As we rode along, we chatted about this and that. It was good to be with Sarah, she was always happy, no matter what happened in her life. I wished I were that way. Suddenly without warning, a big buck ran out in front of us and then just stopped and looked at us as we speed toward him!! Sarah slammed on the brakes and in a loud and clear voice screamed out..."JESUS!!" Immediately...the Jeep came to a stop! We sat there stunned! Looking out the front windshield...AT NOTHING! We were both gasping for air! Where did the buck go?? We turned and looked at each other. A smile began to slowly creep across Sarah's face. She began to bounce up and down in her seat!
I sat there bewildred. Was she ok?? She began to giggle!! Oh Boy...She's lost-it I thought. Sarah began to yell out..."Thank You JESUS! You are so Faithful!!! Thank You LORD!!" I was puzzeled? Where was JESUS? I didn't see HIM?? What was she talking about?? Was HE there?? Did Sarah's Faith in JESUS cause the buck to disappear? I was confused. I glanced out my window because something had moved and it caught my eye. There, next to me out the window was the BUCK....unharmed!? I was stunned. How did he get over here?? By now Sarah had her hands up, Praiseing GOD! WOW! I was thinking....Maybe..JESUS REAL DID DO THIS!? I tapped Sarah's shoulder and pointed out my passenger side window. She leaned over so she could look out my window. She let out a "Whoopie! GOD is Sooo GOOD!!" It was begining to sink in now. GOD had saved us from a terrible accident!! WOW! HE really cared! But...did HE care for me...or was it HE cared for Sarah and that's why this impossible thing had happened?? Either way, HE had Saved my Life!! I was Thankful!! "Thank-you GOD" I said out loud! Sarah smiled and we hugged!
Sarah started the Jeep which had stalled because she had popped the clutch and we started away. As we rode on to church, we relived that event over and over. I will not soon forget it. Once we arrived at the church, Sarah went to Pastor Woody and told him what had happened and he asked her to tell the congregation. She stood up there and told it again to the people. Her face glowed as she told of how her Savior had SAVED HER and I that night! WOW! As I sat listening to her, it was like reliving it again! My thought's were turned inside for a moment. What if we had died? What if what Sarah says is true? If a person is not "Born-again", they will go to HELL if they die?? I sure didn't want that! What should I do? As if he could read my mind, the Pastor came over to me. He asked me if I was SAVED? I said No, I wasn't. He asked me would I like to make JESUS the LORD of my life since HE had died for me to be FREE and keep me from HELL"S Fire. I looked into his eyes, and saw he was for real. I said,"YES Pastor, I want what I think I have been missing. Tonight just opened my eyes to what is important, and I think I would love to have the same Peace that you and Sarah have. Yes, Please..Help me find HIM, JESUS."
With that, Sarah had finished and was heading our way. She had tears in her eyes. She hugged me so tightly, I thought I would crush! We joined hands and Pastor smiled and said, "The Angels and the LORD are Rejoyceing right now, over you entering into the Kingdom of GOD!" We bowed our heads and Pastor asked me to repeat a prayer with him. I did. As I prayed I began to cry, like never before. It was from deep inside of me. I could feel all the hurts and pain of my life being washed away. When we finished, the whole congregation congradulated me! It was great! I felt different, lighter somehow. New...I felt new! A smlie came across my face that I couldn't stop, not that I wanted to. I was happy for the first time in years.
It seemed like the memory of last night was so vivid that I had gotten lost in it. I sat looking into the flames in the fireplace, smiling. I sure was happy, and Thankful! I can't wait to see HIM face to face. I'm gonna HUG HIM!! Suddenely...I thought to my self...had it all been a Dream?? "Dear JESUS, I pray it was real!" I said out loud!
THERE..... IN THE STILLNESS OF THE ROOM.... NOTHING BUT THE FIRE CRACKELING..... STOOD JESUS AND HIS ANGELS....THE LORD SMILED AND SIGHED......HE WAS HAPPY.....HIS CHILD HAD COME HOME.....THE LIGHT THAT GLOWED FROM THEM WAS BEAUTIFL......Had Maryann been able to see it..
As Inspired by The HOLY SPIRIT to Toni Sweikert.... A servent of The LORD
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