 |
In 1957, I lived in a basement apartment with my family of four. After my parents tucked me in for the night and turned off the lights, my bedroom was so dark that I couldn't see my hand if I held it inches from my face, which became a problem after I went to the zoo one day.
For over a year, I had recurring nightmares of carnivorous beasts, mostly bears, wolves, and lions, lunging at me and baring their fangs. A line from my bedtime prayer-- "If I should die before I wake"-- did nothing to ease my fears.
Mother began leaving on the hall light and cracked the bedroom door open so that a sliver of light fell on my pillow. It didn't chase the nightmares away, but the light allowed me to see I was safe at home in my bed.
The recurring animal nightmares lasted several months, and then my dream life took a turn.
After we moved out of the basement, we visited my grandparents' home, which was bright and comforting, with pictures of Jesus on the walls and Bibles on nightstands. After we arrived, I napped in a guestroom and dreamed I was on a boat, drifting on a placid sea at sunset. Behind me on the boat's deck, the bears, wolves, and lions of my nightmares stood alert yet calm, as a large sailboat floated toward us. A man in a white robe stood at the port side of the boat with his arms raised, and when the boats nearly touched, a plank linked the two vessels.
The beasts immediately crossed the plank and joined the man in the sailboat. Soon they sailed toward the setting sun, leaving me behind. I never had another terrifying animal dream.
I didn't need a dream dictionary to tell me that the second dream signified that my young life was moving in a new, hopeful direction that included a spacious house and a bedroom with windows. I always thought the rescuer was Jesus, whom I could rely on to protect, comfort, and love me.
 |
The Boat Dream is Still "Amazing"
Decades later, the boat dream still held its power. One evening, while I was babysitting, my five-year-old grandson fought going to bed. He said that he was having nightmares. When I recounted the dreams of my early childhood, ending with the terrible beasts disappearing in the sunset, he instantly relaxed, looked at me with his big blue eyes, and said that the dream of Jesus taking the animals away was "amazing." He looked sleepy and calm as he lay his head on the pillow, hugging his plush lion.
Paying Attention to Childhood Nightmares
Childhood nightmares are common in young children; however, experts caution that if nightmares become too frequent, they can result in sleep anxiety and deprive children (and parents) of sleep.* The nightmares I had in 1957 likely contributed to a lifetime of spontaneous waking up through the night. However, I also have reassuring memories of the second dream, which reminds me that God sends messengers to comfort me.
If dreams and their interpretations interest you, find more under the Label "Dreams."
I am grateful for your presence,
Cynthia
- Wolf image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay
- Boat image by Asmodeus94 from Pixabay
*Talk to a pediatrician if you are concerned about your child's dreams.
Feel free to comment on this post. I would also love to hear about your dreams and metaphysical experiences! Please contact me if you would like to receive email updates or a consultation.
No comments:
Post a Comment