Sleep, dreams, and t-shirt worthy quotes

A couple of weeks ago, we attended a pool party for Brooke's soccer team.

One of the girl's brothers-- a friendly, blue-eyed, well-mannered, and much loved young man who also happens to have autism, made such an awesome statement to his father.  

Carter(not his real name) said,

 "Dad, you know I don't sleep well because I am too busy thinking about all the fun I am going to have."

I immediately thought about how great that would look on a t-shirt.  A best-seller.

Later, I started thinking about the fact that for children, the anticipation of fun is

usually the cause for a poor night's sleep.

Rarely, is that what causes adults to lose sleep.  

That's too bad, I mean, if you have to be sleepless at all.

Personally, I need a full eight hours.  I'll take up to nine.

Even at my age.

A couple of years ago, I went through several, torturous

 (like 18) months 

of nearly sleepless nights.  We are talking 2-5 hours a night.

Don't ask me how I am still alive.

And I thought I would never be able to sleep a full night again.

Thank God that I can.

But...last night I had a horrible--

I mean one of the worst--

nightmares ever.

There is no glory in dragging out the details.

But I did get back to sleep after I got my brain right!

Back to my previous sleep-deprived season, and maybe yours?

As adults we usually lose sleep for the exact opposite reason of impending fun.

Stress or anxiety over something stupid/mean/ugly we said or did

or something stupid/mean/ugly said or done to us

is what keeps us up at night.

We re-hash it, re-live it and wear it out.

We really have to let it go.  It takes us nowhere but into further misery and defeat.

Go tell your Daddy!

He is the only One who can bear your burdens, comfort you fully, and give you rest.

During my own journey, I began to seek out scripture related to sleep and rest.

Of course I knew it was there, because if a human can suffer it, God's Word has it covered.

After my confessions and expressions of gratitude, I would read and pray these scriptures.

I will share one of my favorites-- Psalm 4:8

"I will lie down and sleep in peace,

 for you alone, O Lord,

make me dwell in safety."

Sweet dreams, sweet friends!