Want to really know what will help you sleep better tonight? One of the best strategies for getting a good night's sleep begins the moment you wake up in the morning. When the things of eternal value are pursued during wakefulness, sleep is easy. The conscience is clear--no regrets. No worries.
In the dogged pursuit of things that matter sometimes we fail to recognize the obvious. Those moments of time to be embraced before they quickly vanish into the past. Sometimes we stumble upon the signficant serendipitously, like finding the pearl of great price. It was there all the time. But the treasure was found only after recognizing it's presence. Capturing the moment. Life is about living for eternity--one precious moment at a time. Sometimes those "things" crawl into your lap.
This morning I was hit over the head with this principle. Instead of lightning rounds in the hospital before the crack of dawn, I had the priveledge of staying home to help the kids prepare for school. Hoping to catch a quick devotion while my five children were jockeying for a place in the bathroom, I sat down for a quick study of the Psalms.
Out of nowhere, Charlie my four year old crawled into my lap with his morning devotional--a lego dinosaur comic book. God spoke volumes to both Dad and Charlie through that "lego" devotional.
Life is about living, nuturing relationships with eternity in mind, knowing that we have captured those moments prepared for us to invest in the lives of others.
Speaking of psalms, this one reminds us of the futility of our own self sufficiency and the need to focus on a lasting legacy--those little ones entrusted to us. If you want to sleep better, think about putting a priority on those relationships God has given you.
the builders labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city,
the guards stand watch in vain.
2 In vain you rise early
and stay up late,
toiling for food to eat—
for he grants sleep to[a] those he loves.
3 Children are a heritage from the Lord,
offspring a reward from him.
4 Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
are children born in one’s youth.
5 Blessed is the man
whose quiver is full of them.
They will not be put to shame
when they contend with their opponents in court.
offspring a reward from him.
4 Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
are children born in one’s youth.
5 Blessed is the man
whose quiver is full of them.
They will not be put to shame
when they contend with their opponents in court.
Sleep on it!
Boy, is this ever an issue here for this working-from-home mother of four boys. In fact, my husband and I were just talking about it this morning during our own "rush hour," how difficult it is to get a good night's sleep around here. Seems like we run on a chronic sleep deficit.
ReplyDeleteVery relevant topic for our household.
Thanks Rhonda
ReplyDeleteWe've got five. I honestly don't know how my wife does it. I have to take trauma call to get a break.
Someone once said that sleep is God's to contrivance to give to man what he cannot do for himself while he is awake.
The challenge at the Page house is letting go of control and allowing God "give" to us as we sleep.