When God speaks to us He reveals Himself in varied and sometimes surprising ways.  Some are subtle messages to your heart like the  “God Nudges” I’ve mentioned in an earlier post or when you have a new revelation from a familiar Bible passage. Sometimes He gets our attention in dramatic ways like He did when He called me to help Shadrach.  In other situations He sends His message to us in dreams such as the one that changed Shadrach’s career direction.  When our hearts are open, He connects with us right where we are by any means possible.

Many years ago, God gave me a dream that I will never forget.  It was a recurring dream and it came at a time I needed it desperately.

When I was 16 years old, my family, a friend and I were involved in a car accident. My mom and my sister Beth were injured.  My friend Pam and I walked away without a scratch but my little sister, Gaynelle was killed instantly.  I was the driver.

On a cold February day as we traveled to Lebanon for a band concert, I felt the car slip on ice and go toward the ditch.  I couldn’t control the car and ended up in a field. We were in an older car that had no seatbelts in the back and it was a time before car seats for kids.  Everyone in the back seat was thrown out.  Pam and I were safe with our seat belts on. The guilt and grief I felt over the loss of my little sister was almost unbearable.

At that time God brought to me an angel in the form of my pastor and a dream that pulled me out of this pit.  Pastor Dave Garrigus was a large but gentle man who would simply sit with me and listen. I really don’t remember any advice he gave me but his presence was the comfort I needed.  However the dream I was to have gave me hope.

In my dream, I was walking down a long, dirt country road. There were pastures surrounding me and a woods beyond.  Up ahead I could see an old farmhouse with a large front porch with rockers on it.  As I walked toward the house, suddenly someone came out of the front door and ran out to the road towards me.  She came closer and I could see that it was a young child.  Then the realization dawned that it was Gaynelle!  She jumped into my arms, hugging me tightly.  The only words she said to me through her beaming face were, “We’ve been waiting for you.”  As she said this I looked up and on the front porch stood my grandfather, my aunt Gaynelle who my sister had been named  after and other family members who had passed away.  All of a sudden I realized that I was being given a glimpse into heaven and then the dream was gone.  It recurred several nights in a row so I could fully grasp that this was a gift to me from God.

I’ve never had a dream like that before or after.  It gave me what I needed to be able to move on and live the full life I know my sister would want for me.  It’s been nearly 40 years since Gaynelle died and I’ve missed her tremendously.  But I know I will be with her someday. She’s waiting on me.