I don’t think any of my kids have had a clear head for three months. I’m thinking of petitioning Mother Nature to have the name for winter official changed to ‘Cold.’ It would still speak to the temperature outside, but it would resonate well with the endless need for kleenex and cough medicine. And, because of the stuffy heads, sleep has been a little more challenging for my little ones and therefore me. Countless times I’ve snuck into bedrooms to check on coughing and restless children. Because all of our kids share a bedroom, I rarely turn the overhead light on. The rule of ‘never wake a sleeping baby’ carries over into childhood! And, because its my home and I’m in the rooms all the time, I know the layout really well, even in the dark. I can navigate around the furniture and save my knees… most of the time. But, I’m not as good at navigating the toys, the stuffed animals, and all the clothes. Most of them don’t cause too much pain. Sometimes they trip me. But, as any parent knows, there are few pains like stepping on a Lego in bare feet.
I’m a slow learner, but sometimes I get it quicker. Sometimes… Heal to Lego was one of those times. Now, as I go into their rooms to check on them, I use the flashlight on my phone. I keep it low so I don’t wake up the kids. But I pay close attention to where I place my foot.
Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path Psalm 119:105
Navigating my kids bedroom can be a lot like navigating life. Often times we learn and are instilled with a compass that helps us to know about the big things in life. Parents, church, school, experience–all of these and more–help to set in our minds and hearts a vision for how we want to live. And, although we certainly mess those up (sometimes in big ways), we know where those big ticket items in life are placed around the room. And yet, the Word of God is the flashlight that helps us to see where we are going when we walk through the dead of night. The light of God’s Word shines brightly. It exposes the obstacles, both big and small, and provides a pathway through the thickets. Reading God’s Word and allowing it to read us can be the best way to shine a light on those pesky little things that jump up and nip at our heals.
If the Word is a light unto our path then maybe it is like those crank flashlights. In turning the crank you create the energy to power the light–but it only lasts for a little while. It is the same with God’s Word. Not that it’s life giving power stops or ever needs our effort to make it work. But, if we are not engaged in reading it on a continual basis, than its light on our path will grow dim.
This Lent, step up to the challenge of reading God’s word more than you were before. If you only heard it read when you came to church, challenge yourself to read a verse of scripture each day of the week. Click here for a great resource.
If you’ve been sporadic in your reading, utilize this season of Lent to re-devote yourself to being in the Word of God. Today!
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