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| Photo by Alexas Fotos from Pixabay |
Last Sunday my pastor asked the congregation, “When did you dedicate
your life to Christ?”
His question brought back a memory I hadn’t thought about in
years, the day my nine-year-old self gave my life to God, in the most literal
sense.
It was early spring
with a vivid blue sky, newly budded trees, crocus and daffodils in bloom, and robins
singing. My mother allowed me to walk to school alone for the first time and I
was so happy I even skipped and danced for several blocks. At about halfway, I paused to catch my breath.
A voice asked, “Marie, do you want to come to heaven and see
Galen?”
My brother, Galen, passed away from S.I.D.S. when he was
only three months old. I was only a year and a half but for months afterward
whenever we went shopping I’d disappear. After a frantic search, my mother
would find me climbing the staircase looking for heaven so I could be with Galen.
So, when God asked me if I wanted to go to heaven I didn’t
hesitate to answer, “Yes.”
“Do you know what it means to come to heaven?”
“Yes. I have to die first.”
In that instant, I understood I'd be hit by a car and killed before
I reached school. Excited, I searched each intersection for the car that would send
me to heaven.
It was a great disappointment when I reached school
unharmed. As I reached for the door, I heard God say, “This was only a test.”
As children are so capable of doing, I accepted that and pushed
the incident to the back of my mind, telling no one about the experience until
years later.
Although I did not get to be with my brother that day, my life changed
dramatically. God became an integral part of my daily life, blessing me with
his constant presence in the form of audible (to me) conversations, visions, dreams,
and divinely orchestrated coincidences.
He is truly Wonderful Comforter, Mighty God, Everlasting
Father, Prince of Peace.
When did you dedicate your life to God?
