Well, it’s almost 1 week in, and my pre-fatherhood sleeping patterns are all but a fading memory right now! Going to sleep late, waking up early, only getting up when the washroom necessitated it, you know the deal, well, that life is over! As we were preparing for our baby, one of the many things I heard from numerous sources was “get your sleep now” or “make sure you stock up on sleep now”. Usually this was said with a smile and a look of, well, pity from those who have beeen there before. I could see it in their eyes “you don’t know what’s about to hit you!!!” After just a few days it has sunk in quickly--my sleep is no longer my own!! It now belongs to a sweet little girl who needs to eat, feel Mommy or Daddy’s touch, be changed, or just be grumpy if she chooses too! And believe me, everynight she has chosen one or all of the above! As I was thinking about my new life sometime this week, I’ve begun looking at some texts in a brand new way. The one that I’ve been repeatedly meditating on is Psalm 121:4,5
Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is thy keeper
Amazing. One of the things we value most as humans, our sleep time, and the thing we need most to efficiently cope and handle a day----God has no need of! How amazing is that! We hear so much about parents becoming aggravated and “losing it” when their young one is crying & fussy @ night, robbing them of sleep and rest, and in some cases, I’m sure it most be extremely trying. But how good is it to know that our God doesn’t get angry, doesn’t become frustrated, but is available at anytime to hear, to answer, to deliver, to talk, to comfort and counsel ---all because of love. When love is your response to being ‘put out’ of your way by someone, great things can happen. Love is God’s response to us, because love is who He is. His Love Bank never shuts down and is never in overdraft----He is actually committed to being in overdrive in His love for us. He is a ‘keeper’, the ultimate parent. Nothing will catch Him by surprise. Be encouraged. Your God does not sleep, He doesn’t nap, He is always looking out for you, and available to you. That, my friends, is what you call a Faithful Father. When all is going wrong, trust that God will keep you, and bring him your worries and troubles...not only is He the best person to take care of them but I also guarantee that you won’t find Him sleeping!
