September 10, 2015
When a Dream Dies
Sharon Jaynes
Today’s Truth
I’m ready, God, so ready, ready from head to toe. Ready to sing, ready to raise a tune: “Wake up, soul! Wake up, harp! Wake up, lute! Wake up, you sleepyhead sun!”(Psalm 57:7-8 MSG)
Friend to Friend
I sat on my porch with my Bible in my lap and a hot mug of steamy coffee in my hand. Early morning is my favorite time of day. Just me, Jesus, and a smattering of birds.
I closed my Bible and looked out across the backyard. My eyes landed on a rounded mound of fur nestled in the grass under the willow tree.
I got up and moved in for a closer look. My heart sank as I discovered what appeared to be a curled-up baby fawn lying lifeless in the grass. Probably the same fawn my neighbor had seen nursing from its mom the day before. My heart broke. I understand the circle of life, but still. A baby fawn lay dead in my yard. Most likely the target of the coyote I’d seen the day before.
I couldn’t get close enough to see the wound. Sometimes that is the way of things.
I did get close enough to see the sunlight passing through the velum-like ears, the intricate spots on its back, and the Bambi-like eyelashes resting on a perfectly shaped snout. I would have to wait until Steve got home to take care of the situation. I just couldn’t.
All morning long my mind returned to the lifeless form lying in the sun. Hours passed. At noon I looked out of the window and the still fawn remained unmoved. Untouched. Undisturbed. I couldn’t stand it. I had to know the cause of death. So I mustered up my courage and made my way to the fawn. Three feet away. Stop. No signs of an attack. I inched closer.
Finally, I knelt down by the beautifully crafted creature, admiring God’s handiwork. But I couldn’t see what had killed it.
“What happened to you, little deer?” I whispered.
Suddenly, the fawn’s head popped up! Startled eyes stared at me…wide-eyed. Me like a deer caught in the headlights. The fawn simply caught. I fell back on my haunches! And time stood still for a moment as we stared at each other in disbelief! Just a hand’s-breadth away.
Finally, the fawn sprang to its feet, wobbled a bit, and scampered off like a drunken sailor. I sat in the grass and laughed, and laughed, and laughed.
So the fawn wasn’t dead after all. It had simply found a bit of grass and fallen asleep…until almost noon. And where is your mother? I wondered.
After my heart stopped pounding in my chest, God whispered, Sometimes things are dead, and sometimes they just need to be woken up.
I pondered those words for the rest of the day. I called a friend who is struggling in her marriage—in a very bad way. The sort of way that leaves you wondering if it will survive. I told her the story. I told her God’s message.
Sometimes things are dead, and sometimes they just need to be woken up.
Sometimes a marriage is dead, and sometimes it just needs to be woken up.
Sometimes a friendship is dead, and sometimes it just needs to be woken up.
Sometimes a dream is dead, and sometimes it just needs to be woken up.
I think we are much too quick to write the death certificate for our hopes and dreams. So here’s my word for you and for me today.
For my friend struggling in her marriage…
For my friend who cries for her adult son who walked away from God…
For my friend who has received ten rejection letters from publishers...
For my friend who longs to cuddle up with a good husband rather than a good book...
Don’t assume the dream is dead. Sometimes it just needs to be woken up.
Let’s Pray
Dear Lord, Wake me up! Stir my heart. It’s not over till You say it’s over. I commit to continue to pray for what others deem as a lost cause, for I know that there is never a lost cause when it comes to Your power to save, to deliver, to redeem, to rebuild.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
Were you surprised when you read in the story that the fawn was simply asleep? I think that is the same surprise God would like to give you today.
Read Matthew 9:18-26
What did Jesus tell the crowd about the little girl?
What did they do when Jesus said that?
What was the outcome?
People may laugh at you for continuing to pray, for continuing to believe. But don’t let that stop you. Turn them out!
More from the Girlfriends
Today’s devotion was taken from one of my blog posts at www.sharonjaynes.com. My blogs are a bit different in that they are more “real-time” - what happened today or this week. I’d love for you to click over to my webpage and join the blog conversation. And if this devotion has stirred your heart to dream again, then check out my book, 5 Dreams of Every Woman, and How God Longs to Fulfill Them.
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