Thursday, February 23, 2012

The Crowded Bed

Fingers of God

It's 4 am.  The baby wakes.  Eyes half closed, I stumble to her crib and bring her back to my bed to nurse.  She eventually falls back to sleep, but I am too tired to even place her back in the crib.  I shuffle down in my bed, beneath my covers and lay her next to me.  I drift back to sleep.

What seems like minutes later, I awaken to a little one climbing up on my bed.  Surprisingly, it's Ethan, my five year old.  I can't remember the last time he came into our room in the middle of the night.  I grab him and help him up into my bed, thinking he needed comfort.  I whisper to him to be careful of Baby Amelia, and he snuggles in and drifts off to sleep. 

By now, I'm slightly awake and just lying there, thinking.  Thinking of many things.  Praying.  Praying for loved ones, for situations, for anything that comes to mind.  Before I know it, I hear the pitter patter of feet.  Another one of my precious babies is climbing into my bed.  I glace at the clock.  It's now 5 am and we've got three children squeezed in between my husband and me.  My sweet husband sleeps soundly, not even aware of our visitors.  But I lay there.  Wide awake, yet so tired.  My thoughts bordered on feeling a little irritated that my bed was full, and I would surely not get back to sleep. 

Truly my soul finds rest in God;
my salvation comes from him. Psalm 62:1

But as I lay there snuggling these babies, the irritation melted away.  I was suddenly filled with joy.  My heart was full.  For whatever reason, my kids awoke, needed to be close to us, and felt welcomed to come, knowing they would not be turned away.  What a privilege it was to hold my babies close, keeping them warm, knowing they were all safe and well.  They were at peace.  They were comforted.

I began to think about the truth of scripture, and how this mirrors our relationship with God.  When we are scared, need comfort, or reassurance, He welcomes us.  He welcomes us at any moment, day or night.  He doesn't get tired, or irritated by the hour.  He just welcomes.  He loves.  He comforts.  We are His children and He loves us more than we can imagine. 

"As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you;
And you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.”
Isaiah 66:13

I am so grateful to be a mom.  I don't always show it, or appreciate it.  Some days I wonder why God entrusted me with these precious souls.  But He did.  And I am thankful.  It's moments like these, when my bed is overflowing with children, in the sleepy quiet of the night, that God reveals His deep love for me.  His child!  And just as my children come to us, without reservation or hesitation, I must go to my Father.  Only there, will I find comfort and peace!

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort.  2 Corinthians 1:3


Photo Credit

7 comments:

  1. Idaho Gramie9:50 AM

    Candace you amaze with your insight no matter what time it is! I miss our "Sunday-Bed" times when you all were little. I'm glad you cherish the moments as they grow so fast. What a great scripture teaching moment!

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  2. Aww...thank you, Mommy! I miss our "Sunday-bed"! One of my best childhood memories! Miss and love you!

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  3. I love this post! While I was at home in SA, just a couple of weeks ago, I woke up before Percy and the kids got up. I walked across the hall to my parent's room and climbed into bed with my mom. It was so comforting. It was home. So I know exactly what you are talking about, as both a 34 year old kid and as a mom.

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  4. That last paragraph just sums it up...

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  5. Anonymous10:30 PM

    Love this! Thanks for sharing!

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  6. This was just the reminder I needed. My oldest still climbs in bed every now and then, My youngest is still in bed with us and is a bed hog just like his daddy. The nights he doesn't come to our bed, I usually wake up looking for him. I guess even though I get pushed out of bed and sometimes end up with feet in my face, I find comfort in it too!

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  7. Anonymous2:43 PM

    Some mornings we wake up with 3 extras in our room, but hey, that's one reason we upgraded to a King Bed! Thank you for your thoughts! I do love that my children feel like they can come to us for comfort instead of being confined to their rooms.

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