Peaceful Slumber

I can hear everyone saying it now. “What is a mother of a tiny human doing writing anything with a title about sleeping peacefully?!”

I went into motherhood being the kind of person that went to bed around 9 and woke up at 5. I couldn’t function much on less. On the nights where my mind was spinning and I couldn’t sleep, the next day was miserable. I had heard the horror stories of sleepless nights with a newborn, but nothing can truly prepare you like the real deal.

Those first few weeks are hard on anyone. But we are and were blessed to have a great little sleeper. When he started sleeping longer stretches through the night you’d think I’d be able to sleep better. Wrong. Even with him sleeping next to our bed in his bassinet, I had the constant fear of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). I’d reach over and lightly touch his chest to make sure he was breathing multiple times through the night.

It was exhausting and I knew I had to do something for my own sanity. That’s when I was given a mental picture. As I lay awake mentally trying to keep my son breathing in and out, God gave me the most beautiful picture. I imagined Jesus sitting in our rocking chair with our boy cradled in His arms. I saw angels surrounding his crib and snuggling him when he was restlessly falling back to sleep. Peace instantly washed over me and I was able to sleep.

Even just last night (I wrote this back in December) I called this picture to mind. He’s sleeping much better through the night and constantly moving around in his crib. When he doesn’t wake up enough there’s a simultaneous feeling of relief and worry that he’s not okay because he hasn’t moved or cried out in the last few hours. But then I remember that my son was given to us as a perfect gift from our Father in Heaven and that He has and always will be holding our son in His arms. The joy and relief is multiplied when he wakes up with the sweetest smile on his face every single morning.

Your sleepless nights might not be because you have a small child who doesn’t understand the importance of sleep. It might be your anxious thoughts or the struggle to leave work at the office. No matter what it might be, we all crave that peace that comes with a calm and peaceful night of sleep.

So what can you call to mind that will bring you that peaceful slumber? It might be memories of childhood or a quiet place of refuge.

I encourage you to put your sleepless nights into the arms of the Father who cradles the stars and rocks babies to sleep.