Josiah and I went to make a few new friends up on campus at UH. He participated in his very first ever contact table! He did so great and of course, attracted many a smiling, cooing student (mostly girls). But it was, indeed, rather toasty out today and I didn't want him to fall victim to heat exhaustion so early on in his tiny little life. Plus, he was having a little trouble falling asleep for a nap due to over-stimulation and a terminal case of sleep-fighters syndrome (SFS). So, I brought him home and gingerly placed him in his crib. He was already pretty passed out from the ride home (all of 7 minutes) and promptly turned himself on his little side and continued to dose.
I victoriously walked into the other room and sat down with a popsicle and ginormous glass of ice water and began to check some "email" (read: FB). Two minutes in, my child began intensely whimpering and before I could even get up from the chair, he was all out screaming and wailing in absolute panic. When I walked into his room, his eyes were wide open and he had a look of sheer terror on his face. He even was startled a little more when he noticed me standing over him.
I knew immediately that he must've had a bad dream. Something must've scared him. He must've seen something behind his precious, innocent eyes that caused him to utter such screams.
I immediately picked him up in my arms and began praying and telling him he was okay; that Momma was here and Jesus was with him. Once he calmed down, I talked to him about how there are bad things in the world, and that sometimes he'll see and experience bad things, but that Jesus wins. And that Jesus is always with him.
My heart just broke that it had to be that way. As his mommy, I want so bad, more than anything, to shield and protect him from anything and everything unpleasant.
And that's when I got convicted.
I should be pleading the blood of Jesus over my son's sleep...over his dreams. I can't, as his mother, control what comes into his mind. I can't choose what thoughts he has or what images he sees when he's sleeping. (I can take control over what images he sees while he's awake, but that another topic altogether). But I, for sure, can set up a cover over him in the name of Jesus and by His blood.
You may disagree with me. "But bad dreams and nightmares are just a part of life. Everyone has them and there's no use getting worked up over trying to shield our children from them."
Maybe. But I honestly believe that when we plead the blood of Jesus over the lives of those we cherish and love, they are truly protected. I also know that Psalm 91 says that we need not fear the terror of night (vs.5) and that He gives His angels charge over us (vs. 11).
Mommies: let's be committed to praying over our darling babies and their dreams. While we still can, let's choose to be intentional and pray that they have sweet dreams; dreams of the beauty of Jesus. Let's protect them for as long as we possibly can from the evils of this world.
And maybe...just maybe...if our precious wee ones are engaging in the sweetest of dreams, they may just stay asleep a little bit longer. And we could all use some more of that, right? ;)
