Not to belittle that amazing answer to prayer, but something else has been on my mind.
Do you believe in Providence? What is Providence exactly?
According to Dictionary.com, Providence is:
| 1. | (often initial capital letter) the foreseeing care and guidance of God or nature over the creatures of the earth. |
| 2. | (initial capital letter) God, esp. when conceived as omnisciently directing the universe and the affairs of humankind with wise benevolence. |
| 3. | a manifestation of divine care or direction. |
| 4. | provident or prudent management of resources; prudence. |
| 5. | foresight; provident care. |
This last week, I had a dream. Let's not open the can on dreams. But let's state that dreams can vary exponentially from person to person, night to night. One thing's for sure, we have no control over what we dream about. Agreed?
I had a dream that went all over the map. The one part you need to know is that I was hanging out with this girl I knew in High School. I think we were our current age, but she still looked like the last time I saw her--ten years ago. We went fishing of all things (neither of us ever fish, at least that I know of). Then I gave her a big hug, and a big kiss.
Awkward, yes. Weird for sure.
Then I got a Friend Request on MySpace the next morning. It was from my friend I had a dream about the night before. I hadn't thought of her, well, probably since High School. I have a dream about her, then she suddenly appears in my life (even if it was my cyber-life).
Turns out she's married and lives in Kansas.
She had a beautiful daughter.
Yes, had.
Following is an excerpt from her MySpace page:
"This is the hardest part to write. On Aug. 18 2003 my daughter, CHLOE MAE ROBINSON was born. She was born with a rare immune deficiency called SCIDs. When she was two we moved to Cincinnati and she had a bone marrow transplant. The transplant gave us 8 more wonderful months but on Nov.11 2006 Chloe passed away. Chloe was amazing and she taught me so much. Even though she rarely left the hospital she was full of life. She always had a smile on her face. She made everyone she met feel special. Josh and I are trying to figure out how to go on without our precious Chloe. If you would like to learn more about her go to www.carepages.com and to chloescorner."
I don't know why I had a dream about this friend of mine. I don't know why she and her husband suffered this tragedy. I don't know why she sent me a friend request "out of the blue." Doesn't it seem a little too, I don't know, coordinated? Providence.
I wrote my friend back and expressed our deepest sympathies (like you can really do that over a computer). I let her know Andrea and I are available to her and her husband in any way possible...prayer being our biggest offering.
This friend and her husband have been on my mind a lot this week. It's been especially hard whenever I hear Ellie laugh, or see her smile. In those moments I think about how much joy she brings me, and how much they must miss their little girl.
God is always at work for the good of those who love Him. I'm not sure where this friend of mine is at in her faith. But I know God is sovereign. He has a plan for all our lives. He's not some puppet master--He's our Father, our Abba. One who lets us live our lives as we choose, as much as it may pain Him. And when we come to pain in our life, He's there. He's always there--waiting to be sought after. Not just in pain and distress, but in joy and in peace. I don't know about you, but my soul finds such solidity in that. When the foundations of His created Earth shake apart around me, He's there.
Even in our simple, yet profound, dreams.
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