LESSONS FROM THE GRANDS-MONSTERS

The "Two Littles" came for a visit with Lulu last week.  When it rains, we play in the garage.  Poor Hero is the epitome of patience with them.  The Needy Old Man will tolerate almost anything from them.

While they were here, the subject of where to sleep was inevitable.  Three bedrooms--plenty of space---but somehow we all end up sleeping in the playroom with the trundle bed.  Not familiar with a trundle?  It is a medieval torture device not meant for adults.  The bottom bed is a mattress on wheels with wooden slats holding the mattress.  Look at the example above and you will probably figure out the rolling part of the bed has a mattress approximately 11" thick.  Thankfully the top bed has a REAL mattress.  I am a smart woman and quickly decide I will sleep on the top with whoever opts for it.  OF COURSE that would be the larger of the two children.

You will note in the picture above, not only does the trundle not have a very thick mattress, but it also must be stepped on to get on the higher bed.  SO here I am stepping over the small child on the thinner mattress to get on the comfortable bed.  FUN from the get go!  As we begin our nightly routine of reading and then prayers, the Little One wants to get in the bed with us to see the pictures.  HOW I wish I had a photo of that mash up!  One of them has to turn the pages for me since I am completely squished between them.  Did I mention, the Wonder Dog is also in the bed with us??  It just kept getting better and better!

We read our two books and say our prayers and time for LIGHTS OUT!  The Little One immediately declares---"THERE ARE MONSTERS!"  She will NOT be talked down and I end up in the bed with her---11" off the floor--with my bad hip begging for mercy.  Somehow we survive the night AND no monsters showed!

The next few nights, I learned my lesson.  I got in bed with her and waited until she was asleep and then slipped into the big bed.  This necessitates me getting up with nothing to hold on to (TRY IT--NOT EASY) and while stranding on the squishy mattress pulling all the cover, which is in a ball around the Bigger Little, back into some form of straight.  Poor Hero is staring at me as if to say--JUST GET IN BED!  Well now, a mattress that does not send my hip into spasms!  No need for counting sheep after a day of play, I am off to slumber land.

   AND THEN--about 2:00 AM the Little One realizes I am not in her bed and declares---THE MONSTERS ARE BACK!  Groan--back on the trundle.  This time, I just slowly fall onto the ground floor from the higher bed.  The need for a pretense of grace has flown out the door with the need for sleep. This dance goes on every night until they go home.  I am too old to be playing musical beds--especially with a bed inches from the floor!  Those darn monsters better not show themselves around here again or they are headed for a hurting!

How many nights do you go to bed and the monsters show up?  How many nights do you wake up in the middle of the night with the monsters in the room?  Our monsters as adults are the things we worry about.  For some reason, when all is quiet and the world should be shutting down, our minds can go into overdrive worrying about the monsters in our world.  Illness, financial problems, what if's, storms, possible losses, and on and on~the things of the world-especially those we have little control over plaque our thoughts in the deep of the night.  Why can't we believer there are no monsters?  Why can't we trust that we will be taken care of until the day dawns?  We forget Who we can trust in, we forget we are being watched over as we sleep, and we somehow think we have some control over our lives.  BUT GOD---He is watching, He is caring, He is providing, and His will is always best.  Turn to God and allow Him to chase those monsters away. 

 Sleep a peaceful sleep knowing there are no monsters big enough that He can't protect us.  A loving Father watches over us--in the daylight and in the night.  Shoo those monsters away and sleep!

6 Be strong and courageous. 

Do not be afraid or terrified because of them,

 for the LORD your God goes with you;

 he will never leave you nor forsake you

Deuteronomy 31:6