My parents are getting older. It seems Momma is in and out of the hospital weekly and Daddy doesn't do well when she's not around. They've been married for 62 years which is amazing but honestly, I'm not sure what they are going to do without each other.
As with many older folks, Daddy's memory is getting worse with age.
We don't go to visit in Missouri as often as we'd like to and sometimes all three of our boys don't go with us. Dad will ask me how many kids I have and if they are all boys or he'll ask me if I like living in Tennessee. Occasionally, he'll ask if I am going to be making my home there. We've lived in Tennessee nearly twenty five years now but he still doesn't want me living so far away.
But one thing he never forgets is the story of how he got his land. He tells it to us pretty much every time we visit, at least once. I love to hear him tell this story.
He ALWAYS credits God for giving him the land. But also, that God gave him a dream about the land before it actually happened. Through God's grace he ended up with the land he dreamed about exactly the way God showed it to him in the dream. He says that for some reason God wanted to be good to him even though he didn't deserve it and gave him the land and decided to tell him about it beforehand.
Being a dreamer myself, I truly appreciate this story.
Dad used to always ask me, "Have you had any dreams or visions lately?" Then we'd converse about dreams for a while. I loved that there was someone I could share these things with who understood them and was interested in hearing about them.
Most Christians, it seems, don't experience this. And if they have not experienced it, they don't understand it. Some would say it is mystical but for Dad and me - it is typical. It's just one of the ways that God works in our life.
But these days, Dad doesn't ask. He doesn't remember our conversations about them either. This (among other things) breaks my heart. A part of him is gone. A part of him that I loved. I can never go to him and say, "Hey Dad, remember that dream I told you about?" Because I know that he will think for a moment, shake his head and say, "No."
I'm so thankful that he remembers the story of the land God promised him and how it came to pass.
This is one thing I believe he will remember forever. And that is how it should be. 💗
Take delight in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4 (NIV)