Dreams remind me of beautiful free falling feathers...much like the iconic feather that floats throughout the movie Forrest Gump. There is a lightness of spirit, and delicate beauty that each dream seems to embody. Feathers (Dreams) are strong, yet fragile.
Today I packed and sealed a dream into 3 boxes. The dream that I had nurtured and held close to my heart since the birth of our sons had to be released. But in the release of the dream, a new HOPE solidly slipped into the vacant place in my heart.
The 3 boxes held childhood story books that I had read for hours to Steve and Greg as I rocked them to sleep and later read as they settled down for an afternoon nap or a long night of slumber. The dream was to one day read those same books to their children...my future grandchildren. However, the events of January 2003 ended the reality of that dream.
The HOPE that took the place of the dream, today, is because of the destination of the 3 boxes of books. The books that I dreamed would some day be enjoyed by my grandchildren, will instead be treasured by children in Rwanda through a mission project sponsored by The Daily Audio Bible - Cargo of Dreams. Instead of a closet full of broken dreams, the books will now represent HOPE that life and joy (beauty from ashes) can rise from great sadness.
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
Isaiah 61:1-3 NIV
While my emotions may be close to the surface this evening, the deep joy of knowing that LIFE continues and HOPE remains sustains. I smile knowing that soon children who have so little and have lost so much through the horror of genocide, will experience joy in something as simple as a story book.
To Rwanda with all my love...
4 comments:
Dear Bonnie,
Thank you for posting this. I so needed the encouragement it offered to lay aside my dreams and let God work through me to bring something beautiful to birth.
I love you.
May God's blessings cascade in your life.
Alison (Chris's Mum in England)
You are amazing! Love you girl!
This is LOVE. Thanks for sharing your life with us, Bonnie.
Craig from IL
What a beautiful gift, Bonnie. My heart aches for you, but joy will come in the morning for you when those beautiful children in Rwanda open those boxes. <3
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