Yes, I just read my son's blog, and his words made me smile. There have been a few times the past few months that he has made me smile over something he wrote. Things that pertain to family, and missing his children, his Doodad. Now with three children living away from home, he is happy when any of them stop by. Most recently were his two boys. I know the feeling. And it makes me smile that he is learning it.
The reality of that really hit home for me this year when we made the move. As close as we lived together, this son and I rarely saw each other. I saw the younger one even less. My daughter I saw more often as we meet to knit or crochet. Once we made the move, there for awhile, everything changed.
As things were being brought over and put away, I saw my son-in-law and grandson nearly every day for about a month. When they stopped coming over as all on the 'to do' list had been completed, I found that I missed them stopping by, even to just check in was there anything else I needed done. The board remains empty today.
But during this time I saw my middle child much more than I did before. He would bring his middle and youngest child by and they would help with the moving. I got to enjoy his company, his just being around. But, the moving got completed and school started... and then work. But I have gotten to have them over for dinner TWICE since we've been in this place. Minus one or two of the older boys. And the granddaughter, living in another city, has been by a couple times when in town.
My youngest child.... is this where I sigh? He has his share of problems that he creates himself. He doesn't need any help, for sure. I love this son, just as I do my other two children, but I just don't understand him. I have come to understand that he is co-dependent, as is his wife. They need each other. Not so much because they love each other, but because they need each other to build themselves up. Ok - that is just what I see. They enable each other to be what they are. Anyway, I think he came over once during the move, maybe twice. Not to help, but to see where we live, I think. Which, ironically, isn't that far from him. He does have his share of problems, and he creates the majority of them himself.
No, I'm not comparing my children, for there can be no comparison. There is a saying, 'A son is a son until he takes a wife; a daughter is a daughter all of her life.' That is a true statement. And I've come to understand it and live with it.
I was reading in a book this morning about spending time with God. When I was growing up, I do not remember ever seeing my mother reading her Bible or spending time with God. I'm sure she did, I just never saw it; it wasn't modeled for me. I did not learn how important that was until we moved to Arizona and I took a discipleship class. That class was life-changing for me. I learned about Jesus, really learned, and I learned that having a personal relationship with Jesus was the most important thing in the world.
In Discipleship I learned about Jesus getting up early in the morning to spend time with His Father. My teacher shared her example of getting up at 5AM each morning to spend an hour with God. I adopted it for years. My time has had to change due to time required to drive to the office so I get up at 4AM. I still do, although I am working from home. I have always tried to start my day with Jesus. (ok, and with coffee) I have my own 'routine' I do each morning, no matter what day it is. On weekends I try to sleep a bit longer, but the latest I can stay asleep is usually 4:30 or 5:00. The brain just wakes up and says 'get up lazyhead!'
The portion of the chapter today shared about taking some time to think about God before heading to bed. Honestly, I am busy reading a book, or crocheting, or watching a movie before going to bed. I have to admit, unless the book I'm reading is about Christianity, I don't think about God before closing my eyes to sleep. Unless I have something on my heart, then of course I spend time with God, asking for His intervention.
I can remember times when I have had something on my mind and I would spend a few minutes before I went to bed praying and focusing on God. I can remember sleeping in peaceful sleep. This chapter reminds me of those times. Let me share a little of this portion from the book Shelter in God by Dr. David Jeremiah.
....After describing God's creative work, the Bible says this: "So the evening and the morning were the first day" (Gen. 1:5). That pattern is repeated for each of the days of creation, with evening always preceding morning. Isn't that a backward statement of things? Doesn't the morning come first?
This brings us to a valuable little principle you should seize in your daily life - one of those treasures of common sense that can bless you immeasurably. Begin your day before the morning comes. Begin it on the preceding evening with prayer, planning, pondering, and preparation, and the next day will be far more successful and effective for you. Instead of weighing your spirit down with the late news or the banalities of a talk show on television, lift them with a visit to God's Word. Inject the power of His wisdom into your mind before you rest your head on the pillow. Apply His Word to your plans, get ready for the day to come, and ask God to bless the day that will soon follow.
Now get this....You'll be amazed at how well you'll sleep, as your Father takes what you have just offered Him and organizes and renews your mind, doing all the daily mental maintenance work that makes you the kind of servant He needs. When the sun rises, you'll be startled to discover how much confidence will fill your spirit and how energetic and effective you'll be in the workings of your daily life. The evening and the morning will be your day.
I know when I have done some Biblical studying, or just spent time reading my Bible or a good Christian book, I do always sleep better. It's like you know that "God's got this!"
Why not try it tonight? Turn your thoughts to Him, and talk over your day with Him. Ask God to help you rest, so that you will be able to work well tomorrow (oh, wait, tomorrow is Saturday - ask Him to help with what you have going on). Try this every night before you go to bed, it only takes a moment to just review in your mind what is on your calendar, and ask God to take it over. Then you can rest.
Resting in God is much better and more satisfying than trying to toss and turn all night because you can't sleep.
Blessings!
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