God speaks to us in many ways

Tossing and turning last night, I finally drifted off back to sleep at around 4:00 a.m. It was then that God gave me the sweetest gift. I had a dream that my dad, who suffered a life-altering stroke four years ago which took away his mobility and his ability to speak, was healed. I know many might say it was just dream or wishful thinking, but I’m not convinced. I’ve had the dream before, but this one was extra special because, buried in the dream, was a clear sign from God that he’s listening to my dad’s prayers.

The dream was simple, really. I was with dad and he just started speaking – clear words and sentences. Stunned by this, I got my mom and sisters to come closer and listen. He was also walking by just leaning on me, unassisted with his walker. What made this dream so different is what he said. It was something like, “I was talking with the Holy Father and He asked me, ‘So, what are we going to do?’” Between the lines, is the complete reassurance that dad is still talking to God and God is listening and speaking to him. Then, dad said something about God mentioning how he (Dad) was like “Stephen.”

When I awoke, I just knew that out of the blue reference to Stephen was a biblical character. I immediately looked him up. Ends up, that Stephen was the first deacon and the first martyr of the Christian church. For those that may not know, my dad was in the first class of Permanent Deacons in his church back in the 70’s. In Acts 6, Stephen is described as being a man full of “wisdom, faith and the Holy Spirit.” This, too, describes my dad.

After Stephen stood up to the high priests preaching the truth about Jesus (something my dad also loved to do), they turned on him and killed him. However, before his death, scripture says, “But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. ‘Look, he said, I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.’”

I am certain this reference to Stephen was God’s way of whispering truth to me. He inserted “Stephen” into my dream – such a specific name with unbelievable similarities to my dad – to strengthen my own faith and remind me that God has not forgotten my dad or his struggle. It confirms for me that when the time is right, the Father will welcome my dad home. I have no idea if this dream was a revelation about a coming healing for my dad. While I sure hope it was, I understand it may not be this side of heaven. But, I do know, that it was confirmation that dad and God are having regular conversations and that God is listening and loving him. I take comfort in knowing what a personal relationship He has with my dad that He would liken him to Stephen. For dad to be seen in His eyes as a man of wisdom, faith and the Holy Spirit shows a life so well lived. How blessed am I to have had him as my example?