Lucy Gerbil & the Mean Mombie
I have heard of many famous people, especially writers, who keep a note pad by the bed in case they get brilliant ideas in the middle of the night. So, I decided to try it! I often think of brilliant ideas and am too lazy to type them out and forget by morning. Last night in some sort of twisted sleep deprived delirium, I wrote down two words: "Lucy Gerbil." Sadly, all I can recollect is a vague notion of some sort of crib feeding device that resembled a rodent water bottle. It was not brilliant, and I am pretty sure it is would be frowned upon by most social services workers.
I was really hoping that my sleep deprivation would pay off, and I would come up with the next "Sticky Note" or better yet the next can't live without it cleaning tool...like a Swiffer. I love those things. Or maybe a diaper changing machine...that is crib mountable. It could be sold as an add on to the baby gerbil bottle...like a "Act now, and get the amazing Self-Changing Diaper when you buy TWO Baby Gerbil Bottles!" Hey, you never know. I bet someone scoffed at the Post-It guy, too.
I am really tired. Lucy has some kind of stomach bug and has been waking up every two hours with dirty diapers. And I do mean dirty. What's even better is that she thinks it is hilarious! I mean full out giggles, when I get her out of the crib and she loads it up for me while she is nursing. She's definitely my child...as if there was any question about it. When I am this tired, I go into Mombie mode. Where the bare minimum gets done around the house. I manage to scrape something resembling "dinner" up in time for daddy when he gets home. And we have just enough clean underwear and diapers to get us through to Monday. It is especially bad, when you are beyond exhausted and yet cannot help but hear those phantom baby cries, even when she is sound asleep. Last night, after writing down "Lucy Gerbil" I went to check on her and she was sound asleep. I could have sworn she was crying...
I kind of feel like I am running on empty...and coffee. It's about the only thing keeping my alive these days. That's when it hit me...I've been running on empty spiritually, too. Regardless of how much sleep I get, when I neglect to spend time with my Savior, I turn into Mean Mombie. My heart just isn't in the right place, and that makes the deprivation of physical needs ten times more difficult to bear. Last night as I laid in bed listening to Lucy jibber jabber, I began praying fervently. Not just for more sleep, although that was definitely on the list, but also for more diligence in my quiet time.
I often pray in the wee hours of the morning, but it usually goes something like this, "Lord, if you could just make her go to sleep. Maybe like a Sleeping Beauty spell and I will wake her up in the morning with a kiss and some mommy and Lucy quality time. I promise I will read my Bible and be extra nice to my husband." Then I drop my face back into my pillow and try to remember what sleep was like. Last night, I realized that I ask God for a lot. I make requests for things that would make my life easier and more convenient. But that isn't what prayer or a relationship with God is about. I once heard a pastor begin a sermon with this statement:
I challenge you to spend some time thanking God today. When we spend time concentrating on finding things to be thankful for, all those other "requests" that we make of God seem a little less important. I will still be praying for something brilliant to come to me in my sleep though...maybe that whole "Lucy Gerbil" thing has a little merit...
I was really hoping that my sleep deprivation would pay off, and I would come up with the next "Sticky Note" or better yet the next can't live without it cleaning tool...like a Swiffer. I love those things. Or maybe a diaper changing machine...that is crib mountable. It could be sold as an add on to the baby gerbil bottle...like a "Act now, and get the amazing Self-Changing Diaper when you buy TWO Baby Gerbil Bottles!" Hey, you never know. I bet someone scoffed at the Post-It guy, too.
I am really tired. Lucy has some kind of stomach bug and has been waking up every two hours with dirty diapers. And I do mean dirty. What's even better is that she thinks it is hilarious! I mean full out giggles, when I get her out of the crib and she loads it up for me while she is nursing. She's definitely my child...as if there was any question about it. When I am this tired, I go into Mombie mode. Where the bare minimum gets done around the house. I manage to scrape something resembling "dinner" up in time for daddy when he gets home. And we have just enough clean underwear and diapers to get us through to Monday. It is especially bad, when you are beyond exhausted and yet cannot help but hear those phantom baby cries, even when she is sound asleep. Last night, after writing down "Lucy Gerbil" I went to check on her and she was sound asleep. I could have sworn she was crying...
I kind of feel like I am running on empty...and coffee. It's about the only thing keeping my alive these days. That's when it hit me...I've been running on empty spiritually, too. Regardless of how much sleep I get, when I neglect to spend time with my Savior, I turn into Mean Mombie. My heart just isn't in the right place, and that makes the deprivation of physical needs ten times more difficult to bear. Last night as I laid in bed listening to Lucy jibber jabber, I began praying fervently. Not just for more sleep, although that was definitely on the list, but also for more diligence in my quiet time.
I often pray in the wee hours of the morning, but it usually goes something like this, "Lord, if you could just make her go to sleep. Maybe like a Sleeping Beauty spell and I will wake her up in the morning with a kiss and some mommy and Lucy quality time. I promise I will read my Bible and be extra nice to my husband." Then I drop my face back into my pillow and try to remember what sleep was like. Last night, I realized that I ask God for a lot. I make requests for things that would make my life easier and more convenient. But that isn't what prayer or a relationship with God is about. I once heard a pastor begin a sermon with this statement:
"Instead of asking God, 'Why me?' trying asking God, 'Why not me?'"That thought often strikes me, when I am trying to understand things like why Lucy won't sleep, why I forget about that check that I wrote, why the car is making that awful "whirring" sound, and why I didn't cook that roast in the back of the fridge before the expiration date. I get frustrated with the difficult things in life and often forget about the brilliant things that are already there. Today, I made a decision to only give thanks in my prayers. To spend deliberate time thanking God...and not just so I don't feel guilty later when I want something from Him. I often have ulterior motives, when I pray. As if God doesn't know the heart behind it...
I challenge you to spend some time thanking God today. When we spend time concentrating on finding things to be thankful for, all those other "requests" that we make of God seem a little less important. I will still be praying for something brilliant to come to me in my sleep though...maybe that whole "Lucy Gerbil" thing has a little merit...
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