A few weeks ago, I had a dream. I know, we dream more often than we remember, but this one I happened to remember. In this dream, my daughter was taking a bath. She LOVES to take baths, and usually fills the tub with nine million toys, or sometimes chooses just one. She has an assortment of animals, one being a rubber shark.
In my dream, she was 'swimming' and playing in the tub, but with a shark that was real. Real fins, real eyes, and real teeth. She wanted to play with it, but I kept trying to teach her how to push him away when he came near, so he wouldn't bite. She would say, "But Mommie, he's not going to bite me. I just want to play with him a tiny bit. It's OK, I'll be OK."
Again, in the dream, I must have had a screw loose, because I allowed her to stay in there. I just kept an eye on her. If the shark came too close, I (calmly, actually) told her to either move out of his way, or to bump him in the nose so he would swim away & wouldn't bite. And he didn't, at first. But, after some time, and before you could do anything about it, he took a big bite out of her leg. That's when the dream ended.
Now, it wasn't that traumatic the next morning for me. Partly because I only vaguely remembered it, and partly because I knew it was a dream that made no sense...yet. As the days unfolded, though, I felt like God was bringing it back to my mind to teach me something.
One morning, I was reminded of the dream again. God took a few moments to share with me. He said I needed to be careful not to actually put Kathryn in the tub with the shark and expect her to protect herself. WOW! He had my full attention.
This particular time, God was very loving and gentle with me. He didn't scold me for anything, but just wanted to make me aware of the choices that I make in our day to day activities. I think we are sometimes unaware of the effect some of the outside influences have on our children. With all of the electronics available now; TV's, movies, computers, games, music...are we really in tune with what is 'swimming' with our children?
Truthfully, I am so grateful and encouraged that God would show me this now, while she is just 6. We don't engage in anything that I would immediately say, "Oh, that must be a shark," but I am just trying to be aware of the subtle ways the enemy tries get near our children and 'get in their tub.'
So, on this Good Friday morning, I am going curl up on the sofa with my little girl. We will pull out the Resurrection Eggs read the Easter story together. I am so very grateful for the sacrifice our Father made. I am grateful for the obedience of His Son, and this gift of eternal life to all who invite Him to live within their heart. God is not just waiting and watching to see how we will survive in this 'tub' of life...He is right beside, inside us, guiding us as much as we will allow. He was, and is, and is to come.
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade--" 1 Peter 1:3-4
Have an abundantly blessed Easter celebration this weekend ~ He knows you, He loves you, and He gave His life for you.
"Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let them say among the nations, "The Lord reigns! Let the sea resound, and all that is in it; let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them!" 1 Chronicles 16:31-32
Deborah,
ReplyDeleteI love how God can speak to us through dreams and how He lovingly warns us. It is a good reminder to always be on guard against the enemy's schemes, especially where our children are concerned.
P.S. I had forgotten about the "Wrath of God" sermon on Mother's Day until now. :)
Julie
Deborah, Thank you so much for this one. We are still on the prayer blazing trail for Aiden. And we are finding we have to intensify it almost daily. With his switch from Covenant to public school I sometimes feel like I am sending him to the sharks on a daily basis. I am still not sure how to navigate this, homeschool being an almost impossible option... But we are where we are, and we are trusting God to guide us, help us to make the right decisions. I confess I am scared there might be a big bite coming. But I don't know if it is a warning from God, or tauting from Satan.
ReplyDeleteJulie, you've had a lot more practice at raising children than me (only because yours are older & you have more, not because you're older :-), & they are turning out to be beautiful young women of God. You and Sam have done, and are doing, a great job.
ReplyDeleteLaurie, I'm sorry that it's tough right now. I know that if God has Aiden in public school, then He will help you navigate the waters and teach him how to rise up above the fray and make wise decisions.
When I find fear trying to creep in, I just declare that God has not given me a spirit of fear, but of power, love, & self discipline. (2 Tim. 1:7) I've jumped on Beth Moore's scripture memory bandwagon this year & it makes such a difference! Every 2 weeks you select the scripture you want to memorize, add it to her blog, and then get working on it. Over the year you'll have 24 added to memory. Of course, you can do it with or without her blog, but it keeps me accountable.
I'm finding that it really helps to be able to pull out scripture when I need it, just as Jesus did when he was tempted. Because I'm choosing my own verses, they are just what I need at the moment, and really do become weapons of warfare.
Maybe you and Aiden can put on the full armor of God each morning before he heads off to school. I did that one year when my life was really challenging and it helped me so much. I just stated the verses aloud, mentally putting each piece in place. I could tell a difference on days when I forgot, and would usually do it as soon as I remembered. Plus, Aiden would probably enjoy becoming a warrior each morning :-)
Please keep me posted~I'll be praying.