August 6, 2001

POEM:
The Dream

Editor’s Note: The following poem, "The Dream" was written by 11-year-old Whitley Cadenhead, who lives with her two sisters and their parents, Kathy and Bret Cadenhead, in Southeast Asia, where they serve as missionaries appointed by the Southern Baptist International Mission Board. Whitley wrote the poem this summer at camp, where she was inspired by the courage and faithfulness of the Ambon people of Indonesia, who have been persecuted because of their faith in Jesus Christ.

___By Whitley Cadenhead___
I had a dream.
I saw Jesus standing at the gates of heaven
Beckoning me in.
I came and sat down by his side.
He looked at me and then started to cry.

He said: "Child, daughter of mine, welcome.
Welcome to the kingdom of God.
Welcome to heaven.
Welcome to the kingdom of God
That is far beyond pain and suffering."
He touched my face and said,
"Daughter, you died for me,
And I am pleased."
I said: "Jesus, I don’t understand.
What do you mean? This is just a dream."
He said, "Look beyond the heavens;
Look beyond the sky,
Look down to earth …"
And again he cried.

He looked at me and said,
"Daughter, when you awake
They will take your life away,
And then you will come up here with me forever to stay.
You must awake now,
But remember I am always with you.
I will be right there
And I will not let you go through anything that you cannot bear."

And then I was back in my room.
I heard footsteps.
My door swung open.
The came in, pulled me out of bed,
And threw me against the wall.
Then I saw Jesus standing there, straight and tall.
He said, "I am with you."
I reached my hand out to him--
And they smashed it, breaking my bones.
Blood dripped down,
And they threw me around
In the room.
They asked me if I was a Christian.
I said, "Yes."
They said, "Deny God and we will let you go."
I said, "No.
I will go with him wherever he goes,
Even if you have to kill me to do so."

All of the sudden, I felt a million pains that I can ‘t explain.

And then I saw Jesus standing at the gates of heaven,
Beckoning me in.
I reached my hand out to him.
He took it in his,
And we walked awhile.
Then he looked at me and said:
"This is no longer a dream
But the real thing.
You are here with me forever to stay."

"When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am" (John 14:3).


___


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