I don't know why I've never noticed this before but Mac (my 2 month old son) taught me something today about my relationship with God.
Mac is a really easy baby at this point. I'm sure his days will come but for now, he's great. There are only three reasons he cries.
1. He's tired. I'm convinced he loves to be a part of what's going on in our family so when he feels his body drifting on him he gets irritated.
2. He has a dirty diaper. He doesn't enjoy sitting in his....well, mess. It's uncomfortable and can cause further pain if not dealt with.
3. He's hungry. When this giant boy of mine needs food he lets you know.
Each of these reasons for crying has challenged me in my walk with God. We'll start with being tired. Last year our staff read a book by C.J. Mahaney entitled "Humility." In the later part of the book he speaks on the importance of rest and sleep. God created us with a need for sleep but so many of us neglect this gift. Unlike Mac, I don't cry when I get sleepy but I fight it with caffeine, television and the internet.
We convince ourselves that we're missing out on fun or life by going to bed. In reality we're shortening our life and lessing the experience of our days by mistreating our bodies. I've found, like many others I'm sure, the later I stay up the more trouble I'm likely to get into. Whether that's physical activity that I shouldn't be engaged in or watching television shows I have no business viewing.
So is it wrong to have fun late at night with friends? No, that's not it at all. I've had some great memories with friends in the "wee small hours of the evening." What I do believe is that we need to have regular habits that are healthy. In the same way it's detrimental to abuse our bodies with food, alcohol or drugs, refusing to give our bodies the rest they were designed for is to neglect the temple of God.
Just some food for thought courtesy of my son Mac. He's a wise man in the making.
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