July 19, 2013

Matthew 6:8

You shouldn’t be like the, because your Father knows what you need before you ask.

“Dianne, where do you sleep?” our six-year-old grandson, Waylan asked me.

This is week three of my year of family leave. Several days each week, I stay at my in-laws, helping keep them in their home. This has allowed me more time with the three grandchildren that live just over the hill from my in-laws. The eldest, Waylan, was inquiring where I sleep. His younger brother, Dylan, had gone down for a nap. I put him in the bedroom where I sleep at my in-laws. This had to be confusing for Waylan, since he has stayed overnight at our house and slept in our bedroom there.

Waylan had a good question. In the last two weeks, Rick and I have been home to our house exactly two nights and slept in our own bed. The other 12 nights, we’ve slept at my in-laws, my Mom’s house and at a cabin last weekend.

Many years ago, I spent a year overseas as a missionary. As I was preparing to leave, I had a conversation with my Grandma Deaton. Since my Grandpa Deaton had died, we had this pack. We prayed the Lord’s Prayer every night when we went to bed, knowing the other person also prayed this prayer. My Grandma reminded me that we would be connected daily, through praying the Lord’s Prayer. It didn’t matter that we were in different time zones. God knows where we are and our connection is always through God.

She was right. It doesn’t matter where we sleep. God knows where we are, even when we switch beds. As I pray the Lord’s Prayer, I think of reconnecting with God and how these words help me offer myself back to God in the simplest of ways.

When my Grandma died, a woman from church said she wanted to become my nightly Lord’s Prayer partner. This was a very touching and special offer. When I started this year of family leave, she again said we would still be connected daily, through our nightly Lord’s Prayer. Once again, it doesn’t matter what bed she or I are praying from. What matters is the time in prayer, our connection through God and the sense of support and community this offers both of us.

Thank goodness God doesn’t have to search for us when we are sleeping in a different bed. What we can do, no matter where we sleep, is take a few minutes at the close of the day and pray the Lord’s Prayer. Even when I have a fitful night of sleep, doing this brings me comfort. It’s my way to saying, “Here I am, God. Just checking in.” You can join Marilyn and me in our nightly prayer time with God. I pray this becomes a comforting way to end your day also.

Thank you for always knowing just where we are and which bed we fall into at the end of the day. May the words of Jesus’ prayer become a nightly response from us to you in thanksgiving for your presence in our lives. Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done. On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory forever.  Amen.

Blessings –

Dianne