Sunday, August 18, 2013

{Selah Sunday} BEDTIME STORIES


 
 
{A Selah Sunday}  BEDTIME STORIES

Oh goodness…I have less than three hours to get this posted before it is officially Mundane Monday {laundry day}!!

For those of you who are young mommas, this may seem a bit silly, maybe even a bit ridiculous considering we are at the end of Summer and you are running on coffee, sugar and energy drinks… but reading bedtime stories to our babes was always a favorite for Scott and I.  We were exhausted from full days, but clean smelling babes, clean sheets and active little ones who would  s l o w l y start to wind down {or NOT!!!} was such a tender time.

It was the last sliver of teaching and nurturing until early the next morning, or in our case…until barefoot chubby feet touched the floor and quietly tiptoed down the hall into our bedroom.

Oh how I miss those years…even the teenagers rolling in right at curfew or a few minutes thereafter, only to have them come sit on our bed and chat…or pray before bed…cramming in a few teachable/nurturing moments.

Over the past few weeks, I have had the opportunity to help my mother.in.love care for the sweetest little four year old!!  And yes, it has been the bedtime routine.  MY FAVORITE!!!!

Once this little one had been bathed, jammied-up, teeth brushed and hair brushed, it was time for bedtime stories.

I let her choose a few books, but on one of our last night’s together, I picked out the book.

It is an old 1964 edition of Uncle Arthur’s Bedtime Stories.  It smells old, but the pictures are bright and cheery and boast stories of an old era when life was simple and less complicated…but what I am drawn to is the truths that are timeless. 

I opened up to a page and she was excited about the picture of a daddy hugging his little boy so I decided that would be a good story to read since she already was drawn to the endearing illustration.

It was titled:  “How Much Love”

A daddy had been trying to find out how much his little boy really loved him.  The little boy would answer him by saying things like “heaps and heaps”, “lots and lots” and “bushels and bushels”.

The daddy would always tease him saying that wasn’t enough until the little boy, Francis would throw his arms around his daddy’s neck, hugging him and saying that THAT ought to answer his question properly.

As time went by, the daddy seemed to have forgotten the fun they were having as he began reading.  Francis called for him as he wanted to show him something, but the daddy was too busy by now.  Francis insisted that it was something VERY special.  Francis had an important question.  Finally, hesitant, the daddy put down his book and asked the little boy what he wanted to show him.

Francis had a map of the United States spread out and was trying to figure out how far they had driven the last year when they had “driven all  over”.  The daddy replied “That BIG red one.”

Francis inquired as to how long it was.  They discussed the mileage.  Then Francis wanted to know about all of the other lines…the other red lines and the black lines.  Francis was still curious where all the lines led to and how far they reached.  In desperation to answer his little boy’s questions he guessed that it may be over thousands and thousands of miles…maybe even millions and millions and millions of miles long!!

Francis answered, “Well then, Daddy, that’s how much I love you.  All that and even more!”

 

It dawned on the daddy that all that time, little Francis had been trying to find a way of telling his Daddy exactly how much he loved him!!

 

“As the heaven is high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward them that fear Him.  As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us.  Like a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him.  Psalm 103:11-13

 

As I closed the book before we prayed, she sat up with a sparkle in her eye and stretched her little arms out as far as she could and said, “I know how much Jesus loves me…HUMONGOUS!!!”

This little four-year old understood.

 

We prayed and I sang her to sleep and as she dozed off to dreamland…I couldn’t help but thank God for giving me time to teach and nurture this little one even if it was a few moments in the light of eternity.

So, even if you are at the end of your rope, exhausted and weary from long summer days…I hope that you will enjoy the moments of teaching and nurturing.  And once you have fallen into bed…and those little feet come wandering down the hallway into your bedroom, thank God for the privilege of teaching your children the "humongousness" of God’s love for them!!  Knowing full well that a pot of coffee, donuts and energy drinks are mere hours away!
 
 
 
What Bedtime looked like 21 years ago!!!...
 
 

 
 
...and NO, it didn't work!  :}

1 comment:

  1. So precious! Bedtime with stories was big in our house too. I miss those days. I have been behind on my blog reading. I, too, have taken a LONG blog break. May start up again soon. I totally understand your concerns and home life IS more important.

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