Have you got a minute? You are a bit like me, short on time and long on list. I want to tell you a story of a couple of dreams I had. But, before I do that, I need to give you a quick background of the players in my dreams so you grasp their significance. There are only 3 + me. Are you sure you have time? Good. I’ll try to be brief.

Two of the players are my late labs, Grunt and Snort. For years, my family was identified as “Donna and her boys.” My poor husband, Marty, had the dubious distinction of being lumped in with the 2 canine. I always told those who gave me a quizzical glare when I introduced my boys as such, that Marty knew Grunt and Snort came first before we got married. The canine boys needed me, depended upon me for everything, and made me center of their universe. Grunt, the playful, energetic, happy guy, was with us for 12 years. I had him as a pup for nearly a year before Snort came on the scene. Snort, the more laid back of the 2 always jumped in Grunt’s game, but only to be part of the action. Nicknamed the Sultan, Snort commanded attention and adulation. Snort was with us for 14 years, lasting 3 years after Grunt passed on. Both deaths blew Marty and me away. We grieved full and long. We miss them still.

Are you still listening? Do you still have time? You now understand the depth of my love for these 2.

Now, let me tell you about the 3^rd player, my sister, Jean. She wasn’t just any sister (I had 6 of them, for Heaven’s sake!), but she was everyone’s favorite, everyone’s angel. She was goodness and sensitivity. During my adolescence, early adulthood, and beyond, she was my closest friend. The night her husband proposed, she came to my room, flashing the ring he gave her. Self-absorbed as always, I didn’t notice the ring until she pointed it out to me. She told me then that we would continue to do everything together, even though we would live apart. Time and distance changed that later, but only because of me. She was just shy of her 38^th birthday when she died. I miss her still so very much! I’m digressing a bit, but I know you will now grasp the fullness of her significance in Dream 2. Please pay attention and get comfortable. Am I holding you up from something important? Good.

Dream 1

I dreamed Grunt and Snort followed me around. They appeared while I worked at our schoolhouse and I didn’t appear to notice them much, until they followed me the 2 blocks to our main residence. When I got there, I decided to leave them out in the front yard to play and get tired while I did stuff around the house. Getting immersed in the stuff, I forgot about them until I happened to look out the upstairs window and saw Grunt, happy and excited and wanting to come in. Snort was behind Grunt, following suit. Excited, I started tearing down the stairs to get them in. I stopped halfway down, remembering they wouldn’t be able to make it up the stairs. So, I ran through the house and out the back door to go out the garage in the back, as there was a ramp coming into the house from the garage. I ran, happy and joyful and impatient to see them again. Halfway through the garage, I stopped, remembering they were dead. In my dream, I knew they would not be on the other side of the door. I woke up crying, grieving their loss all over again. I so miss them!

Hold on, now! You can wait until I tell you about the second dream before you take off! I’m not holding a pity party for myself. This is not about me. Sit and listen!

Dream 2 (2 months later)

In this dream, my sister, Jean, let Snort out the back door so he could go down the ramp through the garage out the overhead doors to where I was busy in the garden or the yard. Both of them were joyous and happy to see me. Jean smiled, waving, and Snort wagged. However, when they looked out to me, they could tell I was not happy. I was working and could they NOT SEE I WAS BUSY?!? I didn’t have time to visit with either of them or watch Snort or walk Snort just then! Jean shook her head sadly and retreated back inside, but left Snort to continue slowly down the ramp towards me, head hanging, tail down. Suddenly, my heart melted and I dropped to my knees, welcoming Snort into my open arms, and hugged him around his neck. I cried to him that I was so sorry, begged his forgiveness, and told him that he was so much more important to me than any work I had waiting for me. Like Balaam’s donkey, Snort talked back! “It’s o.k., mumma, I love you anyway, no matter how badly you treat me.” His face transformed into that of a man’s, full of love, mercy, and grace.

This second dream clarified the first dream’s message. I’m almost done now. Would you like me to share what I got from these 2 dreams? Listen anyway.

You are a lot like me and need to hear this.

Life is short. Prioritize your time accordingly. Jean, Grunt, and Snort are all gone, as is my time with them in this world. While they were with me, I often put things to do ahead of time with them. I regret that. I don’t remember what was so important that took time away that I could have spent with them. What I was doing in the dreams lacked importance; only the sense of loss and sorrow mattered. Always take time for those you cherish. Make them your priority.
Those who love you, really love you with unconditional love, forgive you your imperfections and imperfect house, yard, paycheck. All they want from you is your time, your undivided attention. Snort’s face transformed into that of the Master of unconditional love, mercy, and grace, Jesus. He doesn’t emphasize the things we have, as His Father provided those things for us. He only wants our undivided attention and that we glorify His Father’s Name. Nothing matters more.

I am a lot like you. I have always been busy and continually add more things onto my list to do. My tendency is to put things ahead of God and people. My tendency is to spend less quality time with those I love and those who love me. I needed to hear this message. Didn’t you?

Go now. Spend quality time with those you cherish. Forget about your long list that keeps you running in the gerbil wheel of life. Let your heart melt. Have a long conversation with God, Mom, Dad, your wife, husband, child, sister, brother, friend. Get to know them better. Make them feel like Jean, Grunt, and Snort made me feel: like the center of the universe.

“Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. (Psalm 90:12)”

Tell me now, friend, do you have time?