I have to admit this dreary wintry icy weather is taking a toll on my psyche, but today at the shop I was reminded of my many blessings. I've been working on my faith book as time allows in between soap-making and shop stuff. The reminder came last week as I remembered a dream that I had all those years ago. I'd like to share it. Here's an insert from my book, My Beautiful Faith. Keep in mind it has not been sent to the editor as I'm still working on the final pages.
Dreams
I believe that God speaks to us in our dreams. Many years ago before re-opening my shop I felt that my future was uncertain. It’s really the only time in my life that I’ve felt this. My mom had passed a few years before, and I had been a caregiver for several years. I really just didn’t know what I should be doing in life. I’d taken some time off and only had my shop open in my home on Saturdays. The notion of opening my shop again downtown had entered my mind only to be quickly dissolved with logic. I might add my own logic. I felt strongly about not wanting to open a shop again. All of the work involved and the time spent sitting at a shop just didn’t appeal to me. We all encounter feelings of uncertainty at some point in our lives. That night I prayed and asked God to tell me what I should be doing, and I had the wildest dream. First of all, it was what is referred to as a lucid dream. When you have a lucid dream you are aware that you are dreaming. I’d never experienced a lucid dream before, and it felt unique and special since I’d not even tried to have one. In a lucid dream, you’re in control of your dream. You can navigate the dream in the direction that you want it to go. For example, in my dream, I dreamt that I was once again a shop owner. I was happy-go-lucky in this dream. I was in my shop arranging flowers. I remember that I was able to change the color of the flowers in my dream. It was as simple as saying red flowers turn blue, and presto they were blue! Since I was aware that I was dreaming it was the most fascinating dream that I’ve ever encountered. I woke the next morning with excitement and eagerness to be a shop owner once again. I was determined to find a spot for my shop that next day. I drove downtown and circled around the square only to be disappointed. There were no open spaces available. I came home discouraged and deflated, but that dream was hanging on to every other thought. That night I had the same dream continued! It was another lucid dream. What are the odds? I was even dancing and singing as I walked across my shop floor. The next morning when I woke I said out loud, I get it, God. The overwhelming feeling to open a shop was tugging at me in every way that it could. I once again drove downtown to search for a good spot to open a shop. There was nothing to be had! Once again discouragement and dismay filled my heart. A month or so later I was meeting with a friend for lunch. We spent hours catching up. My friend owned a shop downtown in an old house. As we were getting ready to leave I mentioned my dream to her. She said it’s funny that you tell me about this dream because I’ve been thinking of asking you if you’d be interested in having a small space in my shop. What! What! I even said out loud, what! We started chatting a bit more, and within a few months, I found myself walking across my new shop floor dancing and singing while placing blue flowers in a vase. Later after I studied scripture I realized just how significant the value of a dream is being repeated. The Bible talks about it. To make the story even more interesting, the location where my friend had her shop was my old location. I was returning to my original shop location.
As for having two similar dreams, it means that these events have been decreed by God, and he will soon make them happen.
If you study Genesis 41 you’ll read how Pharaoh had two similar dreams. The Bible is filled with stories about dreams.
So today I turned on Lionel Richie and danced and sang and wrapped soap and chatted with a few of you. The memory of the dream made me realize just how darn blessed I am! The shop across from Bittersweet could watch a free dance concert today!
We're celebrating a big win with our football team, and I'm working on some creative endeavors with soap. I'm whipping up some good ones!
Jill
