(This family moment was first published in 2007)
Almost every morning, between 3:00 and 6:00 a.m., Cindy and I get a visitor in bed with us. We have always laid down with the boys to put them to bed at night and we have always made room for them when they wake up in the middle of the night. Bryson outgrew the whole climb-in-bed-with-Mom-and-Dad-thing long ago. However, Gabriel, 10 years younger, is just hitting his stride. Each morning, here he comes.
Several years ago, Cindy’s folks gave us a wonderful queen-size bed. We love it. Although we only use a very small portion of the bed, it is nice to know that the extra space is there if we need it. (Not to get too personal, but Cindy and I are snugglers. We are completely unable to relate to couples who, after many years of marriage, end up sleeping in different beds. If Cindy ever develops a snoring problem, I think I’ll just muzzle her, buy some ear plugs and keep on “spooning.” She is a necessary part of my sleeping process. Like Sid, the sloth, from the movie Ice Age 2 would say, “She completes me.”)
Anyway, every morning like clockwork, Gabriel climbs in bed with us. Now you wouldn’t think that a child less than 4 feet tall and weighing less than 50 pounds would require much space. You wouldn’t think that 2 1/2 people would have any trouble fitting on a queen-size bed. Obviously, you have never slept with my son! By the time I get up, little Gabriel has pushed, prodded, squirmed and shoved against Cindy so hard that she has pushed me nearly out of bed. I’m serious! Most mornings I wake up with half my body dangling between Heaven and Earth! I mean, come on! What’s he doing will all that space? If the Lord comes in the early morning hours, it will be easy for me to meet Him in the air ‘cause half of me will already be there!
Devotional
1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 (NIV)
“According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.”
Do you remember the sweet feeling of climbing in bed with your parents? I hope you do. It is a memory that every child deserves to have. Being welcomed into the warm, cuddly embrace of those who love you – ain’t nothin’ like it! If for some reason your parents were not the warm, cuddly type, never fear, your chance could be coming very soon. One day, Jesus will break through the sky. One day He will usher the faithful right into the very presence of God. One day, if you are His, you will feel the very arms of Almighty God draw you to Himself. One day that warm, cuddly, now I can really rest feeling will be yours. Hang in there! Climbing in next to God will surely be worth it all!
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