memorial box monday - nightmares

It's time for another MBM with Linny at A Place Called Simplicity!

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This week's story is pretty short and sweet, proving that God takes care of even the smallest needs. When I was 5 years old my parents were divorced and my dad moved out. I started having nightmares very shortly after. Mostly they were about people breaking in to our house, kidnapping me or my siblings or my mom. I also had the same reoccurring dream that I was standing at the top of a flight of stairs when I am pushed from behind. I fall and fall and fall and then just when I am about to hit bottom I wake up, terrified.

I hated going to bed because I knew it would only be a few hours before I woke up, paralyzed with fear. When I say paralyzed, I mean it. Fear would grip me so tight that even when I tried my hardest to call out in the night for my mom, no words would come. I couldn't move, I could hardly breathe. This went on for years, and though I may have mentioned them in passing to my mom or grandmother, I don't think they ever understood the severity of what I was going through.

When I was 12 years old I accepted Christ and made him Lord of my life. I learned that God cared deeply about me and everything I was going through. That night I started praying a prayer that I still repeat today. It's the Lord's Prayer, but I added my own ending that goes like this:

"and please protect me, my family, and my friends and help us to have nothing but good dreams tonight."

Simple, honest words from the heart of a 12 year old.

About a month later, God took away my nightmares.

Now I am not saying I never have bad dreams (I do, but it is rare.), but I have never since then experienced the crippling fear of those nightmares. You may be thinking "why in the world does she still say this prayer then?" Well, it isn't because I believe if I stop saying it my nightmares will return. No, it is more of a testament or thank you to God. It is a way I remember what he has done for me in my life.

Oh praise the one who paid my debt and raised this life up from the dead!

So in my memorial box goes a copy of the Lord's Prayer, with my little ending.