Come to the Garden

  “The first night at my sister’s house, I settled into the comfy guest-room bed and fell fast asleep. It had been a long few days. While asleep, I had a dream.”

  I am at my parents’ home and the phone begins to ring. As I start to pick it up I see that the phone number on the screen is from the hospital where Daddy is staying. I try to answer, but hear nothing. Thinking Mother has answered the call upstairs, I go up to ask if everything is okay. As I enter her room, she is scurrying around as if getting ready to go somewhere in a hurry. She tells me Daddy needs her right away, so she is going to go to him at the hospital. Next, I see Daddy in his hospital room, wildly thrashing around in his bed. Then Mother walks into his room and crawls up onto the bed with him. At that moment he becomes calm, and my dream ends.

  “I awakened with a start and reasoned that I was just experiencing a delayed reaction to the normal anxiety anyone would feel after having a loved one go through surgery. But the dream disturbed me. I tried to go back to sleep but had no success, which was unusual for me. I looked at the clock, and it was three a.m. I had the feeling that something was not right and could not shake it. Finally, I began to pray, and after a while I just let the Holy Spirit pray through me in tongues, since I didn’t really understand what was going on.

  “At three thirty a.m., I finally felt released from whatever was keeping me up and in prayer. I promptly fell back to sleep and slept soundly until about eight a.m. I decided to call my mother at the house to check in with her before she left to go back to the hospital. She did not answer the house phone, so I tried her cell phone. She picked it up right away and spoke very softly, almost in a whisper. I asked where she was and she told me she was already at the hospital. Then she went on to say that she had received a call from my father in the middle of the night. He was having a bad reaction to the narcotics he had been given for pain and was very agitated. He pleaded with her to come and be with him, so she got dressed and drove to the hospital and was there with him by three thirty a.m. He was finally calm and sleeping soundly after a new medication had been administered.

  “I remember thinking, There you go again, God! You would think I would be used to this by now, but episodes like this still fill me with awe. God permitted me to have another Divine dream and sent his Spirit to help me pray in the midst of this crisis my parents were experiencing.”

  Margaret’s eyes sparkled with delight. “Awe is exactly what you should be feeling, Jenn, when the Holy Spirit intercedes according to the will of God. In this particular experience, God let you know in no uncertain terms that while this event was being played out, he was all over it. He was there in the room with your daddy, he was there at the house with your mother, and he was at your sister’s house with you. The Almighty’s love and care for his children is powerful and ever present. God is good!”

  “All the time!” I responded with a happy heart. I picked up my coffee cup and sat back in my chair, savoring the taste and aroma of the fresh, strong brew. It was so freeing to be able to talk about this gift of the Spirit with someone so willing to listen.

  Just then, in a breathtaking display of brilliant yellow and black, a large swallowtail butterfly left the flower he was feeding from nearby and perched delicately on the rim of Margaret’s coffee cup. His wings gently moved up and down as he watched us. Margaret laughed softly and raised her face to the sky. I thought I saw her mouth a silent Thank you! so I peered around the umbrella and looked up to see whom she might be talking to. Of course, there was no one there.

  “Margaret?” I began.

  Margaret turned her eyes on me and said, “This, sweet girl, is a little gift for you from the Holy Spirit. Whenever you see this butterfly in your garden, he wants you to remember the transforming power of the Almighty and how his gifts can be used to transform the lives of his children.

  “Just as the butterfly was transformed from a caterpillar into a beautiful creature, so you were transformed when you sought and accepted Jesus into your heart. And the gifts he gave you have empowered you to transform the lives of others. Your dreaming and the type of prayer in the Spirit you just described is a powerful form of intercession. Remember the dreams about your grandmother’s fall and the baby with the heart condition? You have long wondered what you were supposed to do with that information. God has given you your answer, dear one. You are to intercede with prayer when prompted by your dreams and the Spirit.”

  I sat very still and realized that Margaret was absolutely right. I wished I could have realized that truth back when I had first experienced those dreams, so that I could have interceded in prayer for those I cared deeply about. I sighed with the acknowledgment that I really do sometimes take a long time to get it!

  Margaret gave me a gentle smile, and I knew she understood. “Learning to use God’s gifts is a process, Jenn. You have been faithful in your desire to learn from him, and he has been faithful to you in return. Jesus promised to provide the Holy Spirit, the comforter, advocate, and counselor, to his people once he had ascended into heaven. With this tremendous gift, he places a power in you that enables you to do more than you could ever imagine. Jesus said to his beloved disciples, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.’

  “The gifts of the Spirit, deeply rooted in love, are intimately designed for each believer in order that they may be used to bring about healing and restoration, encouragement in faith, and advancement of the Kingdom of God. So, dear child, let these words be written on your heart: To whom much is given, much is expected.”

  The butterfly’s wings continued their slow, rhythmic motion as I listened to Margaret’s powerful words. What a beautiful creature it had become. Truly, transformation begets beauty, in a butterfly, and in the hearts of believers.

  Margaret smiled as she watched me process her statement. Finally, with a little “ahem!” she gently guided my attention back to our conversation and continued. “I have provided you with only a glimpse of the beauty of one transformed by the Spirit of God. I pray that one day you will fully grasp the reality of how stunningly beautiful you are to the One who set his Spirit within you. I encourage you to cherish this truth. Now, listen, butterfly girl, as God speaks these words into the depths of your heart:

  “When I promised that I would be with you to the end of the age, I meant it. To find me, look no further than inside yourself. Call upon me, my beloved, for in me, anything is possible!”

  After letting me sit with these precious words for a few moments, Margaret asked, “Jenn, are you beginning to see how active the realm of heaven has been in your life? In your dreams, surrounding you, walking with you, guiding you, speaking to and for you . . . ?”

  “Yes, I am, Margaret. You have shown me there have been so many of those heavenly intersections in my life. I feel like I have been walking around with blinders on, seeing part, but not all of the picture.”

  “To see clearly, child, you have to want to see clearly,” said Margaret thoughtfully, “and I know that this has been a desire of your heart for a long time. There is something I want you to see now. Think back a minute. In the dream where you met Jesus, he held a candle for you and told you, ‘I will always be here for you, Jennifer.’ Then, in your dream about the beautiful child who was Jesus, as he waded into the lake he told you, ‘I am going to my father now, but I will always be near if you need me.’ In the same dream, when he was floating across from you in the flooding river, he said to you, ‘Don’t be afraid . . . You see? I am always here.’ And in your dream about a pilgrimage, Jesus was your guide, walking right alongside you.”

  I gasped as a message emerged. It had been hiding away in my dreams until this very moment. This beautiful heavenly emissary sitting by my side had pulled these statements and events from my dreams throughout various stages of my life and helped me see them together as one profound truth. I have nothing to fear, for heaven is with me always. And
the Trinity—the Father, Son, and Spirit—will remind me of this as many times as I need to hear it! My knees felt weak as I let that sink in. Is it really possible to personally connect with and hear from my Creator? Yes! It most certainly is!

  Margaret gathered me in her arms and gave me a warm, delicious hug. “Congratulations, my girl. You have learned the lesson our Father has been teaching you all along. Heaven truly is closer than you think. The proof lives inside you in the many gifts of the Spirit he has provided.”

  Speechless, I clasped my hands to my heart and sat very still. Sensations of joy, tenderness, and awe swirled through me as I thought back over all that Margaret and I had talked about these past few days. The life experiences, the Divine dreams, God’s quiet voice, the gifts of his Spirit, all interwoven by a common thread—his patient and consistent message of unconditional love for me and for all his children. How could I have been so afraid to share my Divine encounters—God’s active presence in my life—with others? This truth is so precious that the whole world needs to know about it.

  I could feel tears of gratitude forming as I realized I could not have taken this remarkable journey of discovery without God’s help. What a wonderful gift Margaret had been to me.

  My angel smiled as she noticed the big tears welling in my eyes.

  “We all have much to be thankful for, Jennifer. We have a Father who loves us dearly. And I am so thankful he has given me the privilege of being your guardian angel and your guide. I have so enjoyed watching you grow, recognizing your gifts, and learning how to use them to bring glory to God. You will continue to learn, and I am looking forward to many more adventures together in the years to come.”

  The thought of more adventures with Margaret made me smile despite the tears.

  Then Margaret’s eyes suddenly lit up.

  “I think this calls for a celebration. Oh yes! That is exactly what we need.”

  She clapped her hands together, bounded out of her chair, and practically skipped to the edge of the patio, where she stopped, hands on hips, and stared out over the yard.

  I watched her, mystified. I could tell she was in big-time planning mode.

  Margaret finally turned and faced me, her face glowing with excitement. “Remember the wonderful garden party you had for your birthday celebration?”

  “Of course I do”—I laughed—“it was the party I had always dreamed of!”

  “Well then, dear child, you are in for a double treat, because tonight we are going to have another party right here in your own backyard gardens.” Margaret gleefully clapped her hands. “I am going to have to leave you for now because there is much to do to get ready. Look for me here after the sun goes down. Oh, Jenn. We are going to have such a special evening!”

  I shook my head and laughed. It tickled me to see her so obviously excited. I managed to call out “Okay, I will see you tonight . . .” just before she shimmered and disappeared into thin air.

  I stood up from my chair and looked out at the yard. A garden party hosted by an angel. That sounded, well . . . heavenly! Margaret’s enthusiasm was contagious, because I began to feel the tickle-of-anticipation butterflies fluttering around in my tummy. I gathered up our empty coffee cups from the table and headed inside. Halfway to the house I stopped dead in my tracks and sucked in my breath.

  “Oh my goodness gracious!” I exclaimed aloud. “What in the world am I going to wear?”

  Garden Party

  Awake, O north wind, and come, O south wind! Blow upon my garden that its fragrance may be wafted abroad. Let my beloved come to his garden and eat its choicest fruits.

  SONG OF SOLOMON 4:16

  The daylight hours seemed to stretch on forever as I attempted to keep myself busy. Trying very hard not to count the minutes until what promised to be an extraordinary evening, I caught up on emails, took the dogs for a walk, and ran several errands. My last stop was a visit to the craft store to purchase material to make a blanket for a friend who was expecting a baby girl. Spending time among the rows of soft, pastel-colored fleece filled my mind with dreamy thoughts of “sugar and spice and everything nice,” and before I knew it, the afternoon was over.

  As the appointed hour of sunset approached, I walked to my closet to pick out something to wear, I was still mystified . . . what does one wear to a party hosted by an angel? Casual? Dressy? As I snapped on the light, I gave a slight gasp. My decision had already been made for me. Hanging prominently on a hanger before me was a beautiful pink dress that shimmered and glistened in the light. It was a simple, elegant, three-quarter-length dress with long sleeves, a fitted bodice, and a slightly flared skirt. I realized the fabric was identical to the fabric of the gown Margaret had worn that morning . . . the gown I had so longingly admired! I quickly slipped on the dress. Of course, it fit perfectly.

  The sun finally sank below the horizon and darkening shadows began their nightly trek across the lawn. I was so excited I could hardly bear it. I peered out the back door every minute or so, hoping to witness Margaret’s return. Thirty minutes passed and still nothing. It was now dark. The night air was still quite warm, so I slipped into my bedroom one more time to pin my hair into a soft updo. Finally satisfied, I strolled back through my room, and my eyes caught a glimmer of something bright through the shutters on the windows. My breath caught in my throat as I hurried through the house and stepped out the back door onto the porch.

  Words can hardly describe the vision that my eyes beheld. My backyard was completely transformed! All around the pool, on the patio, on the grass, and around the fire pit stood enormous white rosebushes. They glowed with an ethereal white light, and floating above and around each rosebush were several glowing white orbs, similar to votive candles. They slowly circled and danced among the roses, creating the most beautiful visual effect I have ever seen. The very air was tinged in a white luminescence and was saturated with the fragrance of the white roses mixed with sweet almond and night-blooming jasmine from my gardens. It was intoxicating!

  As I stood there marveling, the space around my statue of St. Francis began to glow with the same ethereal white light. Margaret appeared first. Dressed in a lovely white gown, she sparkled like newly fallen snow in the moonlight. Around her waist she wore a loosely tied scarf that looked as if it were made from spun gold. I don’t think I have ever seen her look more beautiful than she did tonight. As she stepped from the garden, two more angels appeared, dressed in the same sparkling white gowns, but these angels wore great, spun-gold sashes across their chests. They were tall and handsome, with dark-brown hair and radiant faces. My heart leapt for joy as I recognized them—they were the mighty warrior angels who were with Margaret and me just yesterday. As they approached, I noticed that one of the big angels carried a beautifully wrapped package in his mighty hands. A soft breeze began to rustle through the trees, prompting my wind chimes to sing their lovely lullaby, and the little tree frogs began their nightly chorus. The night sky was clear and the stars shined brightly overhead. Oh my—I breathed silently—God sure knows how to set the stage for a lovely party!

  “Good evening, dear one,” said Margaret, beaming, as she enveloped me in a big hug. “What a glorious night for a celebration. Our Heavenly Father sends you his dearest love and blessings, and he is so excited about tonight.” My heart thrilled as I imagined my Lord’s personal involvement in this evening. “I see you remember our friends, Jenn. They did not want to miss this special time with you. Come, let’s all go sit down.”

  Margaret led us over to our table and chairs by the garden. As she walked with me, she leaned over and whispered mischievously in my ear, “I love your dress!” I gave her a playful nudge in response. Four chairs covered elegantly in white silk and ribbons were placed around the table. We sat down, surrounded by the white roses and dancing, glowing orbs. Margaret beamed as she caught me eyeing the beautifully wrapped gift as it was placed on the table.

  “Yes, my dear child, this gift is for you, but if you can stand the susp
ense for just a little while longer, I have a special message for you from our Father.”

  I nodded, my excitement mounting.

  Margaret stretched out her arms and opened her hands. “Let’s all join hands together,” she instructed quietly. I reached out my arms and placed each of my hands in the massive hand of one of the warrior angels—one on my left and one on my right—and then these angels joined their hands with Margaret. As we sat in silence for a moment, the most wondrous thing happened. All three angels began to glow with a radiant white light, and then it spread over to me, so that we all sat there at the little table, enveloped in the glory light of heaven.

  Then Margaret began to speak in a gentle, clear voice. “I am honored, Jennifer, to have been your guide through this journey of your life’s experiences and encounters with God. You have put away your fears and have come face-to-face with the reality that you are intimately connected to the Divine—you have never been apart from it. The realm of heaven came with you into this world and walks alongside you each and every day . . . teaching, guiding, and revealing the truths God needs you to know in order to live the abundant life he desires for you.

  “On our journey together, you have opened yourself and made yourself vulnerable in order to discover how God has been present in your life. You have gained in the understanding of your spiritual gifts and now know how to use them to do your part in the advancement of the Kingdom. You have the power to help others discover that they, too, are God’s beloved, and are never alone.

  “What God desires more than anything else is for his children to seek him, to develop an intimate and prayerful relationship with him, to ask him for what they need in order to live full, joyful, complete lives. Oh, my dear child, our Father has so much to give to each of his children! You are the delight of his heart, and his dearest wish is to be the delight of your heart! This has been his plan since the very beginning.”