Tyler's Gift

A dream is a reality that has not appeared yet.

In '07 we were coming back from a Klemmer & Associates event in June. We had our dogs at Doggy Boarding. While I was there I saw this puppy (like the one pictured) there. He was there so our Groomer could find a family for him.
He was all hairy, little and what I though was a little on the ugly side. However Jesus had other plans for me. When I said that he was for sale, the words just popped out of my mouth: "I might be interested." Now where did that come from? We had 3 dogs already and I did not believe that we needed, let alone wanted another living being in our home.
I went to pick up my wife from work. On the way I said that I wanted her to see a puppy our Groomer had there. There was a bit of resistance, but since I was driving she went along with it.
When we got there we got to handle the puppy. He was a snuggler and we took right to him. However he had a growth between one of his toes. A little concern here. It was going away with the medication the vet gave him so we decided to take him home (in sales this is called the puppydog close). Our dogs were already used to him. We were to bring him back after the weekend because he had to go back to the vet for a checkup.
I fell head-over-heals in love with Tyler (yes we named him. Go figure, eh!). Later that day we heard that Tyler had cancer. Not a great prognoses but It did not fase me because I though that we could make his remaining days comfortable. You see I loved him and wanted to keep him alive to help feed this love.
The owners took him to a vet school to be further diagnosed and possibly be treated. The word came back that Tyler's cancer had destroyed all his boan marrow. They did not allow him to wake up :'(
Of course like every human that has lost something I gave praise to God. Yeah right! I did what came naturally; I blamed Jesus for my pain that He had caused me. You see I figured out that it was Jesus that gave me this deep love for Tyler and later on I found out that I was right. I felt like my heart had been ripped out; an EXTREMELY emotional experience.
After I calmed down a bit I asked Jesus; "What am I to learn from this experience?" A good question that He immediately answered: "DON'T EVER GIVE UP ON YOUR DREAMS!"
Huh? What does that have to do with Tyler's death? Now Jesus that is a totally unrelated statement, right?

"DON'T EVER GIVE UP ON YOUR DREAMS!"

Now I figure when Jesus says the exact thing twice I had better listen.
So I put on my listening spirit and listened. Tyler's death was an emotional event that would allow me to remember what Jesus wanted me to remember; that is that He wants all of us to have dreams to fulfill.
Jesus sent Tyler into our lives for a purpose. Tyler's life was Jesus's gift to me. A gift that I appreciate to this day.
Jesus wants us to have dreams that are for us alone. He has made us, formed us and (hopefully, if we have a relationship with Him) directs us. I will talk about this in more detail later but we can make His dreams for us our dreams.

KJV Proverbs 29:
18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

Let us look at two words here "vision" and "law" form Strong's Concordance.

2377 chazown {khaw-zone'} • from 02372; TWOT - 633a; n m • AV - vision 35; 35 • 1) vision 1a) vision (in ecstatic state) 1b) vision (in night) 1c)
vision, oracle, prophecy (divine communication) 1d) vision (as title of book of prophecy)

8451 towrah {to-raw'} or hr'To torah {to-raw'} • from 03384; TWOT - 910d; n f • AV - law 219; 219 • 1) law, direction, instruction 1a) instruction, direction (human or divine) 1a1) body of prophetic teaching 1a2) instruction in Messianic age 1a3) body of priestly direction or instruction 1a4) body of legal directives 1b) law 1b1) law of the burnt offering 1b2) of special law, codes of law 1c) custom, manner 1d) the Deuteronomic or Mosaic Law

As we can see "vision" is divine communication and "law" is instruction.
I can only say that when Jesus communicates with us, it is His instruction for our lives. Not all instruction is for the present. When it is for the future it is a dream. That is why I say: "A dream is a reality that has not appeared yet."
Being totally devoted to Jesus I have the faith and belief that these instruction for the future are my dreams that have not appeared yet.
Tyler's Gift if for you also. If you want a picture of Tyler, let me know and I will email you one.

"DON'T EVER GIVE UP ON YOUR DREAMS!"