Feelings Are Like Children

Feelings Are Like Children

Sara Rose does not like nap time. But she needs nap time (let's be honest: mommy NEEDS nap time, too). My little three year old ball of giggles and joyous energy will indeed turn into a whining, unhappy, grumpy mess by 4pm if she doesn't get her mid-afternoon snooze.

I certainly fantasize about her eagerly jumping into her bed every afternoon, batting her cutie eyelashes at me and saying "I love you, mommy, thank you for reminding me to to take a nap so I will feel happy and wonderful this evening - you're the best mommy ever!" - then she yawns super adorably and rolls over, snoring away within seconds.... but yeah, that has never happened, not even once.

Instead, I usually have to chase her down, pick her up, stuff her wiggly, wormy body into PJs, and lay her in the bed, all the while hearing the most adamant protests and complaints that the 3-year-old mind can come up with, and I assure you, NONE of them are complementary toward yours truly (me). Nope, she has NEVER ONCE thanked me for putting her down to rest. In fact, she will stare me in the eye and tell me she is absolutely NOT tired at all - today she told me that "Daddy already laid me down for a nap today" which is of course not true, as Daddy has been at work all day and she and I have been together every waking moment. Pretty little liar when up against the dreaded nap time.

 As her care taker it is my responsibility to recognize the need and enforce it, make sure it happens, and then we all reap the benefits later, when like a butterfly emerging from it's cocoon, Sara Rose emerges from her room bright eyed, giggling, full of hugs and kisses for the world (starting with Piper, our dog) and ready to take on the world again.

Our feelings are EXACTLY like 3 year olds - they do not always tell the truth, they do not recognize when they are out of control, and sometimes, they need to be put down for a time out behind a closed door.

Think about the tough situation or personal crisis that you are facing right now - what are your feelings telling you about it? Chances are, they are up one day, down the next, and often, they lie to us. Feelings will tell you that you are alone, that God has changed His mind about you, that you should give up, that life will never get better, that life as you know it is over... Feelings also tell us that our happiness is the most important thing, that no one else matters as much as our self, that we cannot be replaced, that we are PERFECT.  Yikes! That is a wide spectrum of WRONG! :)

If we were just animals driven by our instincts, then we would be slave to those crazy, often wrong feelings... but praise God, we are His kids, heirs with Christ (that means brothers and sisters of Jesus!), and His Spirit in us makes us bigger than and wiser than our feelings.

If you can't fall asleep at night because of worries; if you find yourself filled with insecurities about relationships and your self confidence is up one day, down the next; if you constantly second guess yourself.... it might be time to put your feelings down for a nap, my friend.

Ask the Lord to help you to trust in what you know to be true (Philippians 4:8), that He is in control (Romans 8:28), that He has a plan and a purpose for you (Jeremiah 29:11-13), that fear is not of Him because He has given you a spirit of love, power, and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). That's right - read the Word of God in times like these, and the wiggly, wormy doubts and torments of your feelings will go down behind a closed door. 

Nighty-Night!