100 Days with Jesus: Slow Down Enough to Recognize the Special Gifts from God All Around

Day 31


I woke up this morning remembering the best dream. Most of the time when I dream, I only have a vague recollection of it, but this morning it was crystal clear. I dreamed that my dad was handing me candy. I could see the smile on his face and the twinkle in his eye when he laughed. He always called me Sissy and as the only daughter, his face lit up any time I walked into the room. He loved to surprise me with little treats. We didn’t have a lot of money when I was growing up but my dad always found something to give me. Sometimes it was candy or it may be some handmade item that someone at his plant was selling. My favorite treat was when he came home, opened his jacket and there was a little Chihuahua puppy in his shirt pocket. Her name was Candy and she was adorable. Candy lived to a ripe old age. My dad and I had a special bond and I miss him. He passed away over 11 years ago and time tends to erase some of the little details of our memories. But this dream brought all those little details of my dad back to the front of my mind. So when I woke up smiling and remembering with such clarity the details of his face and some of the things he did that were forgotten, I was very thankful.

Yesterday I was thinking about all the many blessings from the Lord and how we could spend a life time giving thanks for all of them. Today was a different kind of blessing. The Lord clearly brought to my memory things that were lost in my mind, cluttered over with all the stress and detail of the world today. I suppose I had to be in a sleep state for this memory to surface. Maybe this is another reminder to slow down physically and to slow my mind down enough recognize the special gifts from God that are all around. He is a loving God and He desires to bless us and reach out to us. As much as my dad loved me, my heavenly Father loves me even more. He also desires that we love one another. John 15:12 says ‘This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you.’ This morning I have a special gift to be thankful for and will strive to be more loving to others.