Lindsey Carlson writes:
As I finish my children’s bedtime story, I close the book and hop up from their bed. We run through the usual routine of hymn-singing and bedtime prayers, and everyone gets their good-night kisses in as they all think up one “last” very important thought that must be voiced before I can leave the room for the night. As we muddle through the twenty “goodnight” farewells, the last words spoken are always the same. “Leave the light on! Leave the door all the way open,” they remind me. This is not an unfamiliar step of our bedtime process; I am very well acquainted with their desires. As we turn the main light off, we turn on the Spiderman nightlight, the Buzz Lightyear nightlight on the adjacent wall, both the bathroom lights, and of course we must always leave the bathroom door open. The special stuffed turtle night light, “Turtle Stars,” projects tiny glowing star-shaped light from the foot of the bed to the ceiling. Last but certainly not least, the bedroom door must remain all the way open. Needing Nearness Around 2:00 a.m. I hear the pitter-patter of little feet rushing to my door, followed by the sound of the turning doorknob and the familiar words, “Iiiiiii’m scaaaared.” Half-asleep, I would love to shoo them to their room, with a groggy “Don’t be scared, go back to bed,” but I know it won’t work. They need more than a a Spiderman nightlight and more than a quick reassurance. They want my nearness. In the middle of the night, my frightened children need to be near us and will only be calmed and quieted by our physical presence. Some nights we scoop them up and return them to their bed, tuck them in and stand by for the few moments it takes for them to return to peaceful slumber. Other nights we give them permission to build a pallet on the floor beside our bed. Knowing our nearness and feeling our closeness quiets their fears in the darkness of the night. Bigger Monsters As an adult, I’ve long since conquered my fears of the dark. But I still have monsters under my bed and they taunt me night and day:
His Light & Nearness Jesus Christ is the Light of the World and scripture says whoever follows Him will never walk in darkness (John 8:12). He offers His life and the light of hope for every fearful sinner who believes. Jesus’ perfect life and substitutionary death perfect life expelled the darkness of this sinful world. Shouldn’t it also expel all of our rational and irrational fears? Each time I fear, it is a reminder of my own need for the gospel to redeem my brokenness. In Christ, I have nothing to fear in death or life. Because Christ lived a perfect life and died a sinner’s death to pardon my sinful disbelief, I no longer need to fear any “what if” situation; my fears of this world are no longer justifiable. In the Light of Christ, I can also see His nearness. Through His forgiveness, He draws me near – keeping me and protecting me from harm. Like my little nighttime snugglers find midnight refuge and peace at the foot of our bed, I too find refuge in the light of the gospel and the nearness of Christ. “The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?’”Psalm 118:6
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Archives
July 2022
Categories |