Lay Down and Close Your Eyes

My oldest son couldn't sleep. He cried, "I'm just so tired, but I can't sleep."

"Yes, you can," I insisted. He got up and went to the bathroom again. The whining and moaning and crying continued. I loved on him (as much as he'd let me) and promised him that if he'd lay still and be quiet, he would fall asleep.



After leaving his room, I snuck back in because I figured he was probably sitting up instead of laying down. Sure enough, his grumpy little face was propped up on his elbow. It was time for sterner tactics. "Lay down and close your eyes," I said very firmly. "I can't sleep," he huffed. Frustrated but determined I said, "I didn't ask you to go to sleep. I asked you to lay down and close your eyes."



He did, and I wandered back to the computer to play Chuzzle some more while I waited for sleep to come to my son so I could go to bed. I wondered, "How many times has God said that to me and I whined just like my son?"



I didn't ask you to write a book, just a blog entry. I didn't ask you to feed 5,000, just a sick neighbor. I didn't ask you to die for your children, just to teach them of me. I didn't ask you to ....



That's what it's all about. Following God one step at a time. Being close enough to Him every single day to know what it is that He's asking of me.



Is there something you've been trying to do all in your own strength, all at one time? What is He asking you to do? Whatever it is, He will equip you to do it!

By the way, my sweet boy fell asleep just a very short time after he laid down and closed his eyes. Mama really did know what she was talking about. So does our heavenly Father.