I’ve been dreaming about my grandfather who passed away a few years back. In one dream – which happened in that in-between space where you’re half-asleep and half-away, so it was like a dream and a figment of my imagination at the same time – he welcomed me into heaven.
I woke up in my bedroom in my mansion in heaven. The room was very pink. My grandfather was by the door waiting for me to wake up, and when I did, beckoned me to come see the house. I followed him out of my room, which was on the corner of the second floor. The hallway wrapped around in an open square with doors on one side and a railing overlooking the first floor on the other. A wide, grand staircase connected the two floors. On the first floor were the living spaces of a house: a living room, a kitchen, a dining room, the foyer, etc.
My grandfather walked down and out of my front door. He told me to come follow him, but I wanted to see what’s behind the doors on the second floor. So I opened one and it was a peaceful meadow. I opened another, and it was a room where babies that passed away were taken care of by angels and anyone in heaven who loved children. Another door led to a prayer room. Every mansion has a door that led to the prayer room. In it, groups of angels and people prayed together for the world. There were screens – for lack of a better word – that displayed headlines of what’s going on around the world. You can think locally or globally, and it would show you who and what needs prayer.
“I have a door that leads to a basketball court,” my grandfather said, “because I like basketball. You don’t, so you don’t have that door. You love kids so you have the door that leads to the babies.”
I finally followed him outside, where I saw a field of grass. Upon wondering where anyone else lived, like my grandfather, my grandfather answered my thoughts, “There’s a door. Think of who you want to visit, open the door, and you’re there.”
He told me, again, to follow him, and that’s when I fully woke up.
You know what my biggest takeaway from this is? I’m easily distracted! I wonder where I would have gone if I simply followed my grandfather right away. And yet, as distracted as I was, he was patient, understanding, and calm.
Maybe, this is one of God’s ways of reminding me that He is patient, understanding, and calm with me when I am easily distracted. When I fall asleep in the middle of praying. When I get restless planning for the ministry. When I take on too many projects because I want a taste of each.
Then, when I eventually get overwhelmed and frozen in indecision and doubt, He’s there reminding me what to do, which is simply, “Come, follow Me.”
And I do. Little by little. Step by step. Like a toddler, following while pointing to the things around her asking, “What’s that? What’s this?”
And He answers. He teaches. He waits. Then He lovingly reminds me again, “Come, follow Me.”
When Jesus spoke again to the people, He said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12, NIV)
Linking up with Holley’s Coffee for Your Heart.
