Larry quietly said, “I think I’ll go to bed early tonight, because I’m tired.”
Mrs. Lewis asked, “Do you think you’re getting sick?”

Larry responded, “Thanks for asking, Mom. I’ll be OK. I just need a little more rest.“

After Larry went to his room, Mr. Lewis asked Lisa, “Do you have any idea what’s bothering Larry?”

Lisa answered, “Larry has been acting kind of strange the last few days. That is, even strange for Larry. I asked him if there was anything he wanted to talk about, but he gave tonight.”

In the middle of the night, Larry woke up with a fright. He felt like he could not get out of his dream. He cried out in a loud voice, “No! No! I know I messed up. I was not good enough! Take me instead!”

Larry’s parents and Lisa were jolted out of their sleep and went to Larry’s room. Larry was sweating and sitting up in his bed.

Larry’s dad said, “It’s OK, Larry. You just had a dream. Do you want to tell us about it?“

Larry said, “I don’t think I’ve ever had a dream like this before. Someone was being punished for something that I did. In the dream, I insisted that the punishment was too harsh. More than that, I was angry because someone else should not be taking the blame for what I did.“

Larry’s dad asked, “Do you remember that the Bible says that Jesus died on the cross for each one of us? Do you think the dream was about Jesus dying for your sins?”

Larry was still shaking, “I don’t know. The dream was just so… real. I think there was another person in my dream, but I don’t know who it was.”

Larry’s mom said, “If the dream was a message from God, I’m sure He’s going to help you understand it.“

Lisa said, “Larry, I’ve had unusual dreams. And I agree with Mom. God is going to help you understand. If you ask for help, He will send it to you. But the answer may come in an unusual way.“

Larry said, “I know God loves me. Thanks for calming me. I would like to try to go back to sleep, now.“

Larry’s dad said, “OK. We will pray for peace in your heart, and in your mind.“

Larry tried to go back to sleep. After a short time, he turned his light on, and stared at the picture of Daniel in the lion’s den the rest of the night.