Midnight Feedings

It's been some time now since I've had to drag my sleep deprived body from bed to tend to the needs of one of our infant children. I love infants. I love their simplicity. I love their smell, their downy "baby chick" hair and their incredibly soft skin. I love their brand new facial expressions. I love watching them discover their hands, their feet, my face, their surroundings. I loved nursing them and bonding in that incredibly intimate way that only a mother gets to experience. I loved how they needed me.

What I don't love is how my brain and body handled sleep deprivation. About three or so years ago I remember being in my veggie garden enjoying the goodness of the peace and joy I get out there. While in the moment, it dawned on me that I felt good... really good. I got to thinking that, in fact, I had been feeling good for months. I then realized that I was consistently sleeping through the night... every night for a long time. It had been about a decade since that was the norm for me. Wow! What a great feeling.

It's really hard to wake out of sleep, get up out of bed and tend to something in the night. This next verse of thanks talks about exactly that... tending to something at midnight.

"At midnight I rise to give you thanks for your righteous laws." Psalm 119:62

Psalm 119 is a 176 verse devotional on the word of God. The author, I believe, is King David and he is passionately devoted to God's Word as his guidebook for living. This lengthy prayer is filled with praise for God's laws. It is said that those who pray much will have much to give thanks for. David had much to give thanks for. He was so devoted that he not only gave the Lord thanks during the day, but was so consumed by his love and appreciation for the Father's laws for living that he rose - got out of bed - and gave thanks to God. Thoughts of God's goodness kept David awake and refreshed him more than sleep did, so he rose to praise the Lord. Every moment that we have on this earth is a gift from God, David was aware of this gift of time, so when he couldn't lie and sleep, he would rise and pray.

I have been awaken in the night, by not only babies' needy cries but also, by the Lord. Sometimes it's been in dreams or a verse playing over in my head or a prayer request that needed attention. Do I always get up out of bed and take on those "midnight feedings" from God? I'm sorry to say, no, I haven't. However, the times that I have risen in the dark of night have been precious, intimate, sweet... a lot like those priceless nurturing feelings I got from nursing my babies in the stillness of the night. God loves us just like that... feeding us with His Word - food only He can provide for His children. And sometimes those intimate, "just for you" words come at midnight.

There's a song that comes from this psalm in verse 105. It was my confirmation verse back in the early 80's. It also happens to be printed on the inside cover of the first Bible that my parents gave to me. This song was made even more precious to me because my very special "sister friend" asked me to sing it on her wedding day. Please have a listen to Psalm 119:105 in Amy Grant's (along with Micheal W. Smith), "Thy Word" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ig8dO3VVayw

"I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life. I am the bread of life. Your forefathers ate the manna in the desert, yet they died. But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which a man may eat and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." John 6:47-51

"And be thankful." Colossians 3:15b