Written by: Elmarie Strydom
Article source: JOY! Magazine
Throughout the Bible we see how God uses dreams to communicate with humanity. Today, God still uses dreams to strengthen the faith of believers and make us aware of His nearness and intimate involvement in our lives. Elmarie shares a touching testimony of how God, through a dream and the disappearance of her beloved Jack Russell, prepared her for what is unthinkable for any parent – the tragic death of her son…
About ten years ago, in January 2014, I had a dream. I was standing in my childhood home and saw my deceased mother (who passed away in 1990, just after my 19th birthday). She was staring at a raw concrete wall – the wall was unusually high. She did not speak to me or see me, she was just staring at masses of water streaming from the ceiling. In the dream, I moved outside and saw my son, who was 19 years old at the time, and his girlfriend walking hand in hand. They did not see me either; I just quietly watched them. My son was wearing a beautiful, stylish suit, while his girlfriend was dressed in casual clothes. They walked past me.
Elmarie with her daughter, Marizanne, and son, Johan.
She won’t go with
A few weeks later when Johan, my son, came to visit (he was in his second year of university), I shared the dream with him and his girlfriend, Nicoline. “Mom had a dream…” I told them the dream and added, “My child, your formal clothes and Nicoline’s casual outfit might mean that you are going somewhere very formal, and Nicoline won’t go with you.”
Nicky’s disappearance
In March of that same year, I had to travel for work and would be gone for about a full week if everything went well. The morning I left, I looked into the eyes of my beloved Jack Russell, Nicky, and promised her that I would be back soon. My heart broke every time I had to leave her, her little heart did too. That evening, I received the shocking news that Nicky had gone missing. I couldn’t believe it. The next morning, I drove the 300 km back to my hometown to help search for her. I walked through the neighbourhood crying and calling her name, but with no success. I had to go back to finish my work as fast as I could so that I could return home and resume the search. We offered R5000 as a reward and spread her pictures all over town. My heart was broken, but I did not give up searching. It was a nightmare filled with tears.
Nicky, Elmarie’s beloved Jack Russell.
The unthinkable happens
Four months later, on July 17 2014, the unthinkable happened. My son died in a car accident. He and Nicoline were driving in his car when they took a turn, the car skidded over some rocks and ended up in a canal. Johan was thrown out the window and somehow became caught in the canal’s lock. Fortunately, he was unconscious at the time, but the cause of death was drowning. Nicoline was not seriously injured. My dream! My search for Nicky suddenly stopped, and the grief over her loss turned into the deepest mourning over the death of my child.
An unlikely reunion
In October, three months later, my daughter, Zaan, was about to participate in a dance competition. She asked if I could take her to a woman in a neighbouring town for her outfit. While we were driving, I saw a white dog out of the corner of my eye, near a man on a bicycle. It was standing by the roadside, waiting for him. I dropped Zaan off and told her I’ll meet her later because I thought I saw Nicky. I turned around and went back to where I had seen the dog. I didn’t see anything, but I decided to keep looking. I sat there for a while and looked around. Then, out of nowhere, my beloved Nicky came walking towards the car. It was a miracle! Tears of joy followed, the reunion was sweet and joyful.
The meaning of the dream
It is ten years later now. When I look back on my life, I realise how great our God is, how much He loves us! My dream before Johan’s death had meaning for me because I knew he was going away. I never thought of death, although my mother symbolised death. The concrete walls and the masses of water represented the canal he fell into. The loss of Nicky was to prepare me for the greatest loss and mourning that would follow.
Peace in the longing
God, my beloved Father, was so good to me to give Nicky back after eight months. She died of old age two years ago. She had a full life, full of spoils and love, until the day she passed away. I am at peace with her passing. My darling Johan, this is a pain and longing that will never go away. Rest in peace, my child, until we see each other again.
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Date published: 25/11/2024
Feature image: Image for illustrative purposes only.
ELMARIE STRYDOM – avid JOY! reader. Email elmarielouisestrydom@gmail.com
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