It is raining! Don’t we all love the sound of rain falling? Even better than hearing it fall, is the opportunity to sleep, while God waters the earth.
I have fond memories of nap time when I was a young child. Oddly, if my memory is serving me correctly, there were more rainy afternoon naps in my childhood than I have ever experienced as an adult. Not sure why that is.
It may be hard to believe, but we actually lived with the windows open when I was a child. No air conditioners. You opened the windows and let the air blow through the house. Not the same now. We keep everything shut tight.
My Mother would, remove my shoes, tuck me in with my favorite blanket and then open the window by my bed. On those days when the rain fell…naps were very special.
The rain would cool the air blowing in my window. I would snuggle down in my blanket. Sleep came so sweetly with the smell of rain. A smell that cannot be duplicated. I would sleep for what seemed forever. Safe. I was safe, because my Mom was there nearby. She tucked me in and kissed my forehead and slipped out of my room as I drifted off to sleep. Nothing to trouble my mind, complete state of bliss.
~Thought For Today~
At some point, those sweet naps became history. It has been at least sixty-one years since I have had a nap like that. I, of course, have had naps, but…not quite like those naps. What was it that made them special?
The smell of rain, the cool breeze gently blowing the curtains, a warm blanket tucked around me with a mother’s love. The only concern? Who to play with when I woke from my nap. No worries. No fears.
Snap to the present! Our problems are greater and more difficult than they were back then. Sometimes we feel burdened down, sleep is hard to drift into with all that is going on in our lives and the world at large. Can we still have sweet sleep? Now that we are grown? Many of our Mom’s are not here to nurture us in that way anymore. We stopped “allowing” those tuck ins at some point.
Our heavenly Father entrusted us to our parents to raise for a time and then at some point we are solely back in His care again. He brings the peace that enables sleep to come. He still brings the sweet smell of rain, the sound of thunder in the distance and the drops hitting the window. He sends the cooling breeze. He protects us and loves us like no other. He sends a counselor to help us moment to moment. He has angels to minister His bidding.
You might say that at some point He takes over tucking us in. That gentle kiss sealed with a mother’s love on the forehead? Well, it just might be the kiss of an angel that settles us in for a restful sleep.
~Scripture For Today~
Proverbs 3:24
24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid; When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. (NASB)
Isaiah 66:13
13 “As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you;…” (NASB)
Psalms 91: 11
11 For He will give His angels charge concerning you, To guard you in all your ways. (NASB)
~Prayer For Today~
Hello Father! Thank You for loving us. For keeping us safe as we sleep. For memories with our mothers, our naps with the rain falling and sweet angel kisses. Forgive us of our sins. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
©2015 Kathy Ledbetter. All Rights Reserved.