Country Blizzard
After a frightening dream about losing the country home and family he loves, Blizzard wakes with questions about growing older, change, and what happens when life on earth ends. With Grandma and Grandpa’s help, he learns that even when the future feels uncertain, Jesus promises to remain with those who trust Him.
COUNTRY BLIZZARD
“I’m a country Blizzard! I am a country Blizzard!” I kept repeating.
I was not aware that I was talking in my sleep until I heard Grandpa say, “Wake up! Wake up! Blizzard, wake up!” while he was picking me up from the bed.
Wow! Grandpa, Grandma, Bertha, Bella, and Cyclone were all up trying to get my attention. “What’s the matter, Blizzard?” Grandma asked.
“Are you all right?” I asked as they all were staring at me.
“We are all just fine. How about you, Blizzy?” Bertha asked.
“I guess I was having a nightmare,” I replied. “I must have been dreaming. I thought Grandpa was very old and unable to do the things he loves. You were old too, Grandma, and we were forced to leave our home to go live in a little apartment in the city.”
“I love my home here in the country with my own loving family. I never want to move anywhere.”
Grandma took me into her arms and laid me back down. “You were just having a bad dream, Blizzard. It is just 3:00 in the morning. Go back to sleep and try to have a fun dream about camping with Grandpa. We will talk about the future in the morning.”
“Good night, all. I love you,” I said as I rolled on my side to try to go back to sleep. Sleep finally came, but the nightmare was so vivid that I had a hard time getting it to go away.
It seemed to be just minutes before Grandma was saying, “Wake up, guys. Breakfast will be ready in a few minutes. Put your clothes on and wash up.”
It was daylight, and the sun was peeking up from behind the hills to the east. As I looked around, I took note that everything was normal and no one was really old and disabled. Grandpa was just fine, and so was Grandma. Bertha and Bella were very pretty young ladies, as they always are, and Cyclone was just his regular self. I was still conscious of the nightmare I had experienced earlier, and it bothered me.
After breakfast and Bible study, I asked Grandma to talk with me about my nightmare. “Can you promise me that you and Grandpa will never get old and we will not move away?” I asked.
Everyone was still sitting at the table when Grandma sat me on her lap. The following is what she shared with me and my pals. I hope this is a big help for you too.
Grandma opened her Bible and read Genesis 2:7: “Then the LORD God formed the man out of the dust from the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being.”
“Notice,” she said, “that man began to be a living being when God breathed into his nose the breath of life. God formed the body first, then He gave it life. The apostle Paul explained that our body is like a tent and we are in this ‘tent’ until our body dies, but that is not our end, but rather a point where things change for us.”
Then Grandpa opened his Bible and read 2 Corinthians 5:1: “For we know that if our earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal dwelling in the heavens, not made with hands.”
He added, “This verse shared by Paul describes the temporary nature of life here on earth in our current bodies. The verse also informs us that ‘we’ who are saved in Christ have a new eternal body waiting for us in heaven.”
After that, Grandpa read John 11:26, which says, “Everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
Grandma finished with, “Blizzard and all of you, our current body will eventually wear out. It will go away, but we are not dead as some think. We go to be with God, and we will receive a new and everlasting body.”
“Being in a body that is wearing out is not fun, but it is temporary. Jesus will always be with us, so we are not left alone here. We love and trust Him. In Matthew 28:20b, we read a great promise Jesus made to all of His followers. It says, ‘And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’”
“Children, you have nothing to fear. You have received Jesus as your Lord. Now you just need to believe and trust Him.”
After that, I gave Grandma a big hug. I said, “I love Jesus and all of the family He has blessed me with. I don’t like the thought of you or any of us ever being apart.”
Grandma finished by saying, “Your Grandpa and I love all of you. Just remember what I just reminded you of: trust Jesus always in every circumstance.”
After that, Grandpa led us in a special prayer. Then he told all of us he has no plans to leave our home in the country to move into the city. “I suspect God will find us here when He calls us to His home.”
I felt a whole lot better and was thankful for all He has done to bless me. I know He will always be near, regardless of the situation.
Friends, I know this letter is different than all of my other ones. It may be a little difficult. If it disturbs you, be sure to talk to a parent or someone else you love and trust, like your church pastor, if you want to know more about what God has in store for all who love and trust Him.
Love,
Blizzard
What was Blizzard afraid might happen after his nightmare?
Who can you talk to when a dream or worry makes you feel scared?
What did Grandma and Grandpa teach Blizzard about growing older and being with Jesus?
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