Night
time has been especially difficult since the day our little
pumpkin came into this world. There were so many days as a new mom
that I walked around like a zombie in yoga pants because
sleep
was illusive.
Early on when our baby was not even a
year old we established a bedtime routine to help our reluctant
sleeper. One of the pieces we put into our routine was playing music
softly in her room as she drifted off to sleep—well, I don't know
how often she quietly soothed herself to sleep, more like forfeited
the battle from sheer exhaustion.
We really struggled in the beginning to
help her quiet her little mind and relax her over-tired body. I would
dim all the lights in the house, turn on her soft night light, and
start music from a playlist I labeled
Go to Sleep Praising, which included some of our favorite praise
songs that she was familiar with.
Last night when I was getting her into
bed, my head was somewhere else. I was tired and just wanted to fast
forward our nightly stories, lullabies, and hand holding. But she
reminded me to turn on her “God songs” as she calls them. So I
walked over to press play on the little pink iPod on her dresser.
She began singing along softly,
soothing herself into sleep mode, “Amazing grace, how sweet the
sound...” I sat on the edge of her bed and was stilled. My hurried
heart hushed.
Memories rushed in, how music had
comforted me during my pregnancy when anxiety and worry overwhelmed
me as I struggled to release my fears about the risk of another
miscarriage.
Revelation
Song played on the radio and I would sing at the top of my
lungs, "With all creation I will sing praise to the King of Kings!" I would pray then that this precious gift growing inside
me would grow into a child of God, that her life would speak praise
along with all creation.
And sitting
there on her bed last night, I remembered how sweetly God sings
over his children to quiet and comfort our hearts.
“For
the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will
take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all
your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” ZEPHANIAH
3:17
My darling girl is at the age when she
sometimes gets bad dreams. So as I pulled up her covers and tucked
them snugly around her she asked me to pray for good dreams. I told
my little dreamer that the Bible says to think of lovely things,
things that are good and pleasing and worthy of praise. She smiled,
“Like puppies licking my face?” Then she sat up to whisper in my
ear.
We prayed for good dreams and gave one
thousand kisses and one more at the door as God songs played over her
into sleep.
(Check out a
playlist
on You Tube with some of our favorite songs. Enjoy.)
