From Dream to Dream by Jennifer Anne F. Messing
FOR SALE. The sign hung in front of the Portland, Oregon, home we’d lived in for 25 years, where our three children had grown up. Eleven buyers viewed it on that balmy June afternoon, the first day we listed it.
Our family’s finances had been tight for many years. We hoped to sell our home and move into a less expensive one.
“Great news!” Our realtor, Jason, called that evening. “Two couples are offering $40,000.00 more than your listed price. The second one is also giving 30-days rent-free while you move out.”
Within three weeks, we’d sold our home to that second couple. Though my heart ached inside, the pressure to move within 30 days kept us on task. One day, while busily packing boxes, our youngest and last child still living at home, 14-year-old Gabriel said, “Mom, I’ve wanted piano lessons. Can we look into that?”
“Oh, Gabe,” I said, wiping my sweaty forehead, “wait till we’ve moved.”
Our ever-patient realtor had taken us to see several homes each night, something that went on for three months. Finally, one evening in mid-July, we walked into a beautiful, 2,250 square-foot, 5-bedroom home. It had vintage charm, a spacious backyard, and a fully finished basement—everything we wanted. In addition, its price was $150,000.00 less than our 3-bedroom home’s sale price. Best of all, the house was EMPTY and move-in ready minus a piano. “Does the piano come with the house?” my husband, Michael, inquired.
Jason answered, “If you want it—yes!”
We laughed with joy and made an offer; we vacated our old residence and moved into our dream home!
A few days later, while hanging our wedding portrait in our new front room, my mind traveled back to 25 years earlier, vividly recalling when, as a blushing bride, my husband had carried me over the threshold of our first home.
Soon after, I took Gabriel to Parkrose High School to enroll him as a freshman. Amazingly, we learned he could take piano as an elective class throughout high school.
The following Monday, school began. On that sunny September morning, carrying his red backpack, our brown-haired and lean, 6’2” son walked to the school bus stop to catch his ride.
“How do you like Parkrose?” I asked Gabriel during family breakfast on Saturday, two weeks later.
He smiled. “I love it! Everything—my new friends, teachers, and classes.”
We began hearing Gabriel practice piano every day. He had a natural aptitude and was picking it up quickly.
Two months later, on a chilly November evening, we attended our first Parent-Teacher conference. Mr. English, his US History teacher, smiled as he motioned for us to sit down. “Currently, Gabriel has an A. He’s hard-working, bright, responsible, always participates, and is respectful of others. An excellent student!”
During the next two hours, six other teachers said the same things Mr. English had said. Gabriel had straight-A grades. My eyes got misty. What more could we ask? Grades like this could land him college scholarships.
We attended the College Information Night with Gabriel at the end of his freshman year. To qualify for college scholarships, students were encouraged to maintain excellent grades and participate in extra-curricular activities.
Gabriel continued earning Straight-A grades as a sophomore and became active on the Mock Trial Team, Track Team, and the A-Cappella Choir. In addition, he won first place in the school-wide talent show for an energetic, hip-hop dance he performed.
One afternoon Gabriel mentioned some US Marines recruiters had visited his high school and talked with him. Though he spoke about it with interest, I didn’t give the conversation much thought.
At the start of his junior year, Michael asked, “What activities are you doing this year, Gabe? Make sure you’re not over-committed.”
Looking at us, Gabriel said, “Choir, Mock Trial, and the Track Team. I also want to join the stage crew for the school play.”
“Will that leave you enough time to study?” I asked.
“Are good grades the only thing that matters?” Gabriel cried, frustrated. “I want to enjoy my high school life too!”
At that moment, I wondered, are we pushing Gabriel too hard to fulfill our dream, or is it his dream?
Gabriel announced the summer before his senior year, “I want to be in the Marine Reserves while in college. Can I enlist now, though I’m only 17?” What?!
Gabriel spoke, his brown eyes earnest. “Staff Sergeant Hernandez says enlisting now will help me get the job I want.”
My heart sank. “Should we let him enlist early?” I asked Michael later when we were in bed.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because if we don’t, he’ll do it anyway when he’s 18,” Michael answered.
Soon after, we talked about college. Gabriel suggested he’d be thrifty and study at a community college the first two years. We’d always been a primarily a one-income home, and the extremely high tuition price of most four-year colleges seemed out of reach for us.
Lord, we prayed, please lead Gabriel to the right college and help him earn scholarships.
Gabriel started his senior year strong, taking three college-level, advanced-placement classes and participating in his usual extra-curricular activities. In addition, he began doing workouts with Marine recruits every Saturday, preparing for boot camp after high school.
Ever since Gabriel was a young boy, I’d sensed God had a special calling on his life. So one day, I asked him why he wanted to join the Marines. He looked at me, determination written on his face. “I want to serve my country, Mom. Evil men rule when good men do nothing.”
Why, Gabe? I thought, still grappling with his decision. A young man with your intelligence has many options. During Thanksgiving break, Gabriel applied online at six Oregon colleges. By December 28th, Gabriel had received acceptance from all six universities! In addition, based on his 4.15 weighted GPA, four private colleges offered him academic scholarships and grants totaling $30,000.00—covering 75% of his tuition.
In January, we received follow-up letters from the four colleges. They invited Gabriel to audition for an additional $6000 scholarship in his major (Music) or minor field (Cinematic Arts).
We accompanied Gabriel to his piano and vocal auditions. Though gifted musically, Gabriel hadn’t taken piano lessons since elementary school like some others. He needed every possible scholarship to study at a university, as he didn’t want to attend college on loans.
Great news came in April. Gabriel was awarded an additional music scholarship at all four colleges.
“It’s so hard to choose which school—” Gabriel said.
“True,” Michael replied. “They’re all great colleges.”
After more prayer, two weeks later, Gabriel told us, “I want to attend George Fox University.” We were thrilled. Our entire family and others cheered as Gabriel strode across the stage to receive his Parkrose High School “Honors Diploma” on June 6th, 2019.
Then, only ten days after graduation, Gabriel would depart for San Diego, California, for his three-month boot camp. Suppose he passed this rigorous, mentally and physically grueling training. In that case, he’d receive a monthly stipend as a private in the Marine Reserves, plus an educational benefit for college, which could pay the remaining 25% of the tuition cost he needed when added to his scholarships. Lord, please help Gabriel pass boot camp!
The day we drove Gabriel to the airport, tears filled my eyes. This handsome young man was the bouncing baby boy I’d once held in my arms many years ago—God’s answer to our prayers to be given a son. And now I felt like I was “giving” Gabriel to the world, to serve where God would call him.
For the next three months, we anxiously waited. Finally, handwritten letters were the only means of communication permitted for us to stay in touch with Gabriel and vice-versa. Then one day in early September, we received a letter from Gabriel.
Mom and Dad,
I’ve done it. I’ve won. Praise be to God; I’ve earned the title Marine and am victorious in the fight of my life. Thank you both for all the love and support you’ve given me; it means the world. I love you very much and will see you at graduation.
Love, (PVT) Private Gabriel Grant Messing
Michael and I cried tears of joy and booked our flights to San Diego, California. In a rousing, patriotic ceremony, we proudly witnessed our son march and graduate with a couple of hundred other young men who pledged to serve in the United States Marines.
God’s overflowing goodness to us deepened my faith. Romans 8:28 came to mind, “And we know that God causes ALL things to work together for good to those who love God". God placed us in our dream home with a piano in the right neighborhood, with inspiring teachers who encouraged Gabriel to reach for the stars. We humbly thank God for the total provision for Gabriel to attend his dream college.
Jennifer Anne F. Messing is a Cascade Award winner and five-time finalist (2018, 2019, 2021), a published author of four books, poet, writing teacher, graphic designer, and an Oregon Christian Writers' past president. She earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism. She has had more than 250 articles, short stories, and poems published in 60 magazines and book compilations, including The Storyteller, Aglow, Standard, LIVE, FellowScript, Seek, To Have and To Hold, and Romancing the Soul. Her book Everlasting Love was a top finalist in three competitions. Her latest release, Love’s Faithful Promise: Heart-Stirring Short Stories and Poems of Romance and Faith, won the 2020 American Fiction Book Awards “Christian Inspirational” category. Originally from the Philippines, Jennifer Anne has been married to Michael for 30 years. They are the parents of three adult children, grandparents of two young boys, and reside in Oregon. Connect with Jennifer Anne on Facebook: @JenniferAnneMessing.Author, on Twitter: @JennyAnnMessing, or on her website, http://www.jenniferannemessing.com.