Greetings TSJ Peeps!
Last night I did not sleep well. How about you? I know many of our TSJ community have sleepless nights. Especially teachers and parents and especially at this time of year. The school year is moving by quickly and although there is still so much to accomplish, the kids are wearing down. As are we adults. Tensions and worries build.
When I do not sleep well it always reminds me of what 
a wonderful thing a good night’s sleep really is.
In line with last week’s blog from the Sound of Music, Solomon wants us to remember: “Strength doesn’t lie in numbers (popularity), Strength doesn’t lie in wealth (worldly accumulation). Strength lies in nights of peaceful slumber. And when you wake up, wake up!“
I give God my thanks for designing us to need sleep. Our brain needs a break from our micromanaging it all day. Or does it manage us? Either way – it is busy when we are awake and seeks freedom when we day dream or are idle and for many of us-even more so at night. So all kinds of things spill into our thought field at night.
Sleep is our daily escape. And sleep does wonders for our immune systems, for our physical growth and healing and for our psychological health too. But you know that already.
And you may be wondering why I did not sleep well, but I am not telling you. (Said with a twinkle in my eye). Although that does not really matter, what does matter is what we learn about ourselves by observing how our minds roam and race when left unbridled or unfocused. At those times we get a peek at what psychotherapists often call our “shadow self” – the unacceptable (to us) parts of self we conceal. Like a ghost, certain things we think and feel can haunt us and blind us from our higher Self.
Last night’s episode of sleeplessness for me was not because something is wrong or because of ill health. It was because I fell into a state of worry. I wandered down that thorn infested path that leads away from trust, gratefulness, peace and confidence. I have walked the path of “what if?” or “Why did I?” or “Why didn’t I?” many times.
Before I had gone to sleep I had talked with Mr. John about some things I had been worrying about. He listened and gently reminded me to focus on all that is good rather than all that is troubling. That had helped me fall asleep in the first place, but I awoke about 2 am and forgot his good advice.
I did some Face Book reading, and read some articles and email.
Two hours later . . . Ding. Ding. Ding. A little message came to me from Solomon who had been patiently waiting for me to listen. Solomon cleared his throat and said “Like John suggested, “think about the good” Of course Solomon added more to that and said, “Remember what you focus on gets bigger. It consumes your attention and you don’t see “the enemy of defeat” hunched and waiting to devour you.”
I lay back quietly thanking God instead of fearing this or that. Peace came like a soft blanket. The ghost of negativity disappeared. I closed my eyes and swear I saw a light and kept my focus on it. I fell sound asleep.
I am sharing this knowing many of you struggle with sleepless nights. You are over tired, over worked and over worried. And some of you have children that don’t sleep well. You have good reasons.
Here are a few TSJ points to ponder today:
*Teaching, parenting and shepherding all youth require two things:
Vision and Discipline.
Like marathoners, we must keep our eye on the finish line.
*Keep your eye upon the goal. Know what you dream for your children. And remember that challenges (both theirs and yours) will build spiritual and psychological muscles.
*Encourage each other. Listen to each other without being “in charge,” defensive, or critical. Rather listen with curiosity. And share from the heart. Remember to wonder again.
Part of Julie Andrew’s song expresses what our children feel even when it does not seem that way:
“What will my future be?
I wonder.
It could be so exciting,
To be out in the world,
To be free!
As children we too used to dream that as an adult we would be free and the world was an exciting place to live!
* Seek help and guidance and support. The biggest resource we all have is each other. The scriptures repeatedly tell us to encourage each other in love.
*Finally, remember what you want when you seek support because the children of our world want the same things from us. I think we want what the Great Shepherd provides for us:
I re-learned two things last night by Solomon helping me to listen to the voice of ancient wisdom: (1) God meets us wherever we are (even on the thorny path of worry and mistrust) when we call out to Him. And (2) The Shepherd accepts us for who we are and does not expect us to be sanitized (cleaned up) first.
With that, take heart dear TSJ peeps. We are on the journey together and this blog is just to remind us of the basics first. As an encouragement coach, I dream of being like the Great Shepherd and meet our peeps where they are on the path of life, and that means none of us has to come sanitized. It is the heart that counts. God does the rest in us to transform us from inside out.
“Strength lies in nights of peaceful slumber.” The Shepherd has the night watch.
With love,
Solomon and Margie
