Last night my 5 year old came into my room while I was sleeping (fairly common occurance--happens most nights around here) to let me know that he couldn't sleep because he was scared (again, fairly common). Usually I pray with him and try to console him, but I was especially out of it at 1:30am so I just mumbled, "There's nothing to be scared of" and told him to go back to bed. He told me he was still scared and I told him, "Just pray to Jesus and go back to bed". THEN he told me that he was sweaty and I told him to take off his comforter and go back to bed. (Are you noticing a theme in my responses?)
Without too much of a fuss he went back to his room and I rolled over to go back to sleep.
Somewhere around 3am I heard a noise that sounded like it was coming from my 3 year old's room so I got up to investigate (I'd apparently been imagining things because she was sleeping soundly). I was coherent enough at that moment to realize that earlier I had blown off my son when he came looking to me for comfort. I felt horrible and went in his room to check on him. Fortunately he was sleeping soundly, so I just gave him a hug and said, "Love you, Buddy".
As I made my way back to my room last night after checking on my sleeping kids I started thinking about how my reaction to my son was exactly the opposite of God's reaction to me as His child. When my son came to me scared I blew him off. When I come to God with my fears he tells me, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, with thanksgiving, present your requests to Me and I will give you a peace that transcends all understanding"
I'm incredibly thankful that God is a much better parent than I am. I am daily trying be more like Him and love my kids the way He loves me.
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