The Dream

Come and see what God has done, how awesome His works in man's behalf!

Psalm 66:5

She pulled into town one cool, autumn afternoon, driving slowly down the main street. She stopped at the only traffic light before parking in front of the grocery store. Tami bought bread, bologna, cheese, pickles, chips and a Coke. Then she climbed back into her car and drove to the edge of town, where she noticed a small park in the grove of elm trees.

As she dumped her trash into the metal barrel, Carolyn caught her breath. There it was! At long last, after her five-year search, she had found it. Tucked into a secluded spot in the woods stood a little deserted cottage---the one she had always imagined as her writing retreat. A dirt path led from the park to the cottage's front gate.

Walking slowly along the path, Tami tried to soak up every detail around the small, deserted building. Fallen elm leaves crunched beneath her feet as she walked reverently through the white-picket gate and up the old brick walk to the front porch. She tried the front door, and it opened without resistance. A quick inspection made her heart beat a little faster with anticipation. It was the perfect place for a well-known author to find the anonymity and solitude necessary for writing.

Returning to the front porch, Tami sat down in the swing and began to push it gently back and forth, back and forth. It's metal chain squeaked softly in rhythm with her thoughts: It needs new paint, and the shingles on the roof have to be replaced. The roses need to be pruned, and he lawn has to be mowed. But mostly, it needs someone to live in it, love it, care for it. It's perfect! I wonder why it's empty. Is it for sale?

A sudden impulse sent Tami running back to her car. She drove quickly back into town and found the local real estate office. When she asked about the little cottage, she learned that it had been repossessed by the bank; its former owners couldn't pay the back taxes. All she had to do was pay the taxes, and it was hers....which is exactly what Tami did.

Handing her the key and deed to her new writing retreat, the real estate agent told her about a local fix-it man named Al. He could help her make the needed repairs. Tami stopped to talk to him on her way back to the cottage and arranged for him to begin work the next day.

By mid-November all the repairs had been made. The roof no longer leaked, the cottage had a fresh coat of pale blue paint and white shutters, the lawn had a manicured look, and Tami had added some homey touches inside. It was the perfect haven for writing. Soon she could sit down at her desk overlooking the goldfish pond and begin working on her next book.

One chilly morning in early December, as Tami swept the leaves off the porch, she heard a small voice say, "Hello." Looking up, she saw a little red-haired girl swinging on the front gate.

"Well, hello," Tami replied with a smile. "What's your name?"

"Gina, What's yours?"

"Tami."

"How do you like the house?", the little girl asked.

"I love it. It's just what I've always wanted."

"We liked it too," said Gina. "It looks nice with the new paint".

Tami stopped sweeping. "Thanks. Did you live here?"

"Yes, until my daddy died. Then we had to move."

"Where do you live now? Tami asked with concern.

"In the shelter downtown."

Tami put down her broom and walked out to the gate. "I'm very sorry your daddy died. What happened?"

"He was sick for a long time, and he couldn't work. The doctors couldn't make him well. They said he had something called leukemia. He died last year, just before Christmas. then the bank told Mama that we'd have to move. She cried a lot after that, but always told me that God would provide for us and take care of us"

"I'm so sorry, Gina. Say, I've got some lemonade inside. Would you like some?"

"Thanks, but I have to go now. My mom will be concerned about me. I have to take care of my baby brother while she cooks dinner at the shelter. Maybe I'll come back sometime."

"Please do," Tami said quietly as Gina walked away, glancing back at the little cottage wistfully two or three times before she was out of sight.

Suddenly Tami's happy little cottage...her dream...seemed sad and lonely. In her mind she could see Gina and her family playing in the yard. She could imagine the smell of home made bread baking in the small kitchen. She could hear the sounds of laughter that now seemed to echo eerily in the trees. And she knew hat she had to do.

On Christmas Eve, Al, the fix-it man, dressed up in a Santa suit, rang the bell at the downtown shelter. He entered with a happy, "Ho Ho Ho!" and started giving presents to all the children. He handed Gina a special doll with red hair just like hers, and he had a big, blue rubber ball for Gina's baby brother.

The last thing in Santa's sack was an ordinary white envelope. He walked quietly over the Gina's mother and said, "Millie, this is for you." Looking quizzically at him, Millie took the envelope and tore it open. When she removed a piece of paper from the envelope, a key fell into her lap. she recognized it immediately. When she looked at the paper, she realized it was the deed to the cottage...with her name on it...marked "Paid in Full."

Tears welled up in her eyes as she pulled out the second piece of paper. The light blue note read, "Please come home. I miss you. Merry Christmas." It was signed, "The Cottage by the Park."

"Who would do such a thing?" Millie asked Al, her soft eyes searching for answers/

"She told me I could never tell you who she is, but I can tell you this: She really wanted that little cottage for herself, but her big hearted kindness wouldn't allow her to keep it when she learned about your situation."

"I just can't believe it. I can't believe someone would do this for me...for my children." Millie's bewildered face showed the signs of a year's worth of concern and grief.

"Will you do something for me, Al?" Millie pleaded. "Will you tell her how much this means to me? Will you tell her that what she has done will change the lives of my children forever? Please tell her how thankful I am...please tell her thank you."

My precious friends: brother and sisters in Christ, don't give up on a dream God has placed in your heart. Where it may seem impossible in the natural, our God is supernatural and with God all things or possible.

Hold on to your faith in Him to make that dream a reality. Don't be moved by what you are seeing, hearing, feeling or anything else. This isn't always easy and we may slip from time to time, but always get back up, give it back to God. Remember, God will give those that trust and lean on Him the desires of their hearts.

We serve a mighty God. We can't ask too much of our God. He will open every window and door to bring His plan into the natural as long as we stand firm, wait on Him, keep our eyes on Jesus, and hold to our faith and not doubt.

Wav playing: You Can't Ask Too Much Of My God, by The Bishops

God bless you all.

Jesus loves you and so do I.

Janette Moore

Janette Moore