Gift of Sleep

Yay, I'm home!!!!!!

Bed... so comfy... it's calling out to me.

Quickly, I change clothes and roll into bed.  

Soft

Cool 

Welcoming 

Pulling a sheet over me, I wiggle myself into the perfect spot.  

Peace 

Quiet 

Calm

Slowly, my eyes drift shut.

*phone ringing*

What? Huh?  Oh.... 2 hours have past.  Wow... I haven't been able to drift off into sleep so easily in weeks!

Father God, thank you so much for a good nap.  Growing up, I never had any trouble sleeping.  As soon as my head hits the pillow, I'm totally out and gone.  Prior to this past year, I never understood what it meant or what it felt like to lay down and not have my mind shut off.  Now I know.  One more item to add on my growing list of personal experiences.  *wry grin*

Lord, these past few weeks, I'm crawling into bed by 8pm.  My mind isn't able to drift off until 2am. Then I wake up around 4:40am, 5:30am, 6:10am... by the time 6:30 rolls around, I'm supposed to be out of bed and getting ready for work.  Father, thank you for helping me through these sleepless nights when even though I'm super tired and my body won't shut off enough to rest, thank you that I can still function on so little sleep.  During these times, searching for sleep, craving rest, thank you for always keeping me company.

Father, thank you for giving me this body that keeps getting stronger.  I don't feel dizzy or shaky as often as I used to.  I don't feel as miserable and tired like I did 4 months ago. I'm no longer in pain like I was 6 months ago.  I no longer feel hopelessly broken like I did a year ago.  As each day passes, the memory of old difficulties fade as I confront new and more immediate trials.

Thank you, Father God, that you are totally in control of my life, my health, my work.  Thank you for giving me the strength and motivation to add more hours at my work.  Thank you for providing a work schedule where I can commit to being present.  Thank you that every struggle, every hurt, every mistake... that none of my time here on Earth is wasted.  Thank you that each difficulty is used to grow my strength, my courage and my faith in you.

Lord God, I don't know where I'm headed in this life nor what I'll be able to do in the future... but I do know that you have a plan, a purpose, a reason for this life of mine.

So, in Jesus' name I continue to dedicate this life to my Lord God, amen.  

During our youthgroup's 2014 Senior SendOff event, this is a picture of me and LegoMan: