Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Philippians 4:4 NIV
Mother’s Day is a time to celebrate motherhood. Being a mother is time-consuming and at times exhaustive. Although my children are in their twenties, they still need me. And with each passing year, I find that I don’t have as much energy as I always had. I look forward to putting on my pajamas, reading a good book, and laying my head on my pillow at the end of a busy day. I also enjoy taking a nap during the day if time and circumstance permit. I enjoy sleeping, however, what I really love is having pleasant dreams that allow me to revisit a time when my children were little!
The night before my son’s 29th birthday, I had the best dream of my life. It made me so happy I woke up with tears streaming down my face. I wanted to go back to sleep immediately to continue this amazing God-given dream. Yes, Lord, this was the sweetest dream!
My dream was as real as life itself. In my dream, my daughter and son excitedly ran up to me and jumped onto my lap. I could feel their little arms and hands wrapped around me, and I could see their tiny, innocent faces. I heard my son exclaim in his six-year-old voice, “Mommy, I am so happy! Today is my birthday!” I replied, “Yes, son, it is, and we are going to have the best birthday party for you!”
When I awoke, I thanked the Lord for allowing me to revisit this precious moment in time with my children, recalling that I should always rejoice. For God says in His Word,
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV
When my son came over to celebrate his 29th birthday, I embraced him a little longer than I usually do. Puzzled, he asked, “Mom, are you okay?” I told him, “Yes, I just missed you! Happy birthday, son!”
I recently had a conversation with my niece, who is pregnant with her first child. She said she was having a hard time deciding whether to be a stay-at-home mom or go back to work. I took her over to my favorite portrait of my children when they were four and six years of age. I said to her sadly, “These are my babies. Do you know where they went? I haven’t seen them for many years. I miss them terribly.” I told her that I would give anything to hold them in my arms one more time, and then I told her about my dream.
Do you miss your children now that they are grown? Do you miss the fun times spent together when they were little? May the Lord bless you with the sweetest of dreams!
In Proverbs, we read,
When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Proverbs 3:24 NIV
He blesses us in many ways even in our dreams, and proper rest, physically and mentally, helps us to praise the Lord more effectively.
What can you do to make sure you get the rest you need? Is there a specific dream God gave you that impacted you?
Heavenly Father, thank You that You allow us to revisit our past as we look towards the future. Our hope remains steadfast in You! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.