I woke up with tears on my lashes this morning. You came to me in a dream. You were a lone stranger sitting in a waiting area of a low lit, open concept restaurant waiting for some reason...a table? another person? I'm not sure. I was the driver of a van full of teenagers at some sort of retreat in the mountains. We were in New Mexico? Colorado? I was waiting for my group to get back to the van and I needed to use the restroom.
I crossed the street and rounded the corner of this outdoor patio restaurant and there you sat. Alone. I didn't notice you until you said, "hey, you forgot the rest of that sweater". I was wearing a hi-low sweater and it was longer in the back than it was in the front. You had a twinkle in your eye and a little smirk on your face to let me know you were teasing me. I looked at your face and I couldn't move, couldn't breath for a moment. Your gaze looked upon me without recognition. Then you got concerned because you could tell that I was staring at you with no words. I took a small step towards you and then I felt tears start to form in my eyes. Suddenly I realized what I was doing and then, without ever taking my eyes from yours, I apologized for being so rude. I explained that you looked exactly like my Dad that had passed away. You had a look of sadness as you apologized for my loss. I introduced myself and you obligingly told me your name was Ronnie. I stared at you as if this was impossible and whispered that Ronnie was also my father's name.
I went on to explain that he looked like a younger version of you. He joked that you must have been an extremely handsome fellow. I sat beside him and I told him that I had a picture of you that I wanted to show him because I wanted him to understand why I was so shocked. I pulled out my phone and showed him the picture of you and Coleen taken right before you got married. He was stunned at the similarity.
I told him I had to leave yet I couldn't make myself stand up. I asked him if I could give him a hug because I couldn't bear to leave without touching him at least once before I left. He smiled and said, "sure Darlin'". As I pulled away, I placed my hand on his cheek and whispered, "I don't understand." He looked at me and said, " maybe you needed to know that he is alright."
I couldn't stop thinking of this bizarre dream. All through church it stayed on my mind. I couldn't understand why it was such a vivid recollection. As I sat having lunch, a thought occurred to me. You kept a small postcard that was left in your hospital room during one of your stays in Abilene. I literally could not wait to get home to read the scripture that I knew it contained. Even though you couldn't speak, you would hold it up for me to read and you would look me in the eye and point to yourself and shake your head in the affirmative and then you would point to me and shake your head in the affirmative.
As soon as I read the words on that card, everything became clear to me. The card read: Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9. Lord, I rejoice in the encouraging promise that You will never leave me nor forsake me. Amen
I realized that you came to me in my dream to show me that you were ok now. That your body was young and strong and had no cancer. That your voice was sure and beautiful. That your mind was happy and finally content. You wanted me to have peace and you gave it to me through a stranger in my dream.
I woke up with tears on my lashes this morning. You came to me in a dream.
