He Dreams of Heaven

By Melinda Draper

He dreams of heaven…

He was listening to gospel music, sitting in a chair across from today’s sitter.

“Hi Daddy! How are you today?”

Smiling – “Oh, ready to leave.”

After explaining that it would be very soon and conversing about my day’s events, he asked where the tv was (he was sitting under it). I moved him to the couch with me. He asked for me to change the DVD, the only word he could find to define CD. Dad always had a way with words so to hear him struggle to grasp the correct word has been hard. I changed the CD to old love songs of his era. He asked what kind of music my kids listen to. I showed him on my iphone samples of songs from All Sons & Daughters, Sia, Bassnectar, Bob Marley, and CFNI. Wes came in and I explained that I had to leave to meet Matt and Darlene to discuss plans and then visit mom. He asked me to change the DVD again, so I changed it to a worship cd. I kissed him on the forehead and began walking across the room to thank the sitter as the music began. He said “listen”. Recognition of the song washed over me and I walked back to the couch and sat down.

He had his eyes closed with a look of serene contentment and peace on his face as the words pierced my heart.

“I dreamed of a city called Glory,

So bright and so fair.

When I entered the gates I cried, “Holy”

The angels all met me there:

They carried me from mansion to mansion,

And oh the sights I saw,

But I said, “I want to see Jesus,

The One who died for all.”

It was as if Dad was at that moment walking on the streets of gold. His face was that of pure pleasure and peace. The song continued…

“As I entered the gates of that city,

My loved ones all knew me well.

They took me down the streets of Heaven;

Such scenes were too many to tell;

I saw Abraham, Jacob and Isaac

Talked with Mark, and Timothy

But I said, “I want to see Jesus,

‘Cause He’s the One who died for me.”

As tears streamed down his cheeks, my hand on his, his mind continued to dream of the place he would call home for eternity. I know in his heart and mind he was on his knees at the Masters feet…

Then I bowed on my knees and cried,

“Holy, Holy, Holy.”

I clapped my hands and sang, “Glory,

Glory, Glory.”

I clapped my hands and sang, “Glory”

I clapped my hands and sang, “Glory”

I clapped my hands and sang, “Glory”

“Glory to the Son of God”

I sang, “Glory to the Son of God.”

As the music ended his eyes opened and I looked him straight into the eyes and said “Thank you daddy. Thank you for introducing me to my heavenly Father. It is because of you I have believed.”

I remember when I was eight, dad came into my room one night and gave me a Bible and told me to start reading every night before bed. He started me in John. It was in John, I discovered the gospel story and it became real in my life. Jesus’s words gave me much comfort but the one passage that gave me the most comfort was John 14:1-3. The Foundation Singers (under dad’s direction) sang that passage and it still gives me comfort especially as I look into my dad’s eyes. “Let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God. You also believe in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions. If it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you and if I go to prepare a place for you I will come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am you may be also.” He is living this passage and one day soon he will see Jesus and will be settled into his eternal home. Until then he dreams.