Me: Brady has it been a long day?

Prodigal: Yes, and I think it is time for bed.

Me: I have a story for bedtime.

Prodigal: We are ready for the story.

It was getting late; I was ending a phone call with my brother.  His sons were about to go to sleep so we paused our conversation to say goodnight.  I repeated a dear phrase we had said in our family at many bed time hours. 

“Good night, sleep tight, don’t let the bed bugs bite.” 

Brady, my nephew immediately said.  “I am going to punch those bugs; they are not getting me.” 

Just to clarify.  There are no bugs at all in his home.  He doesn’t know what a bed bug is.  He doesn’t even have to worry about bugs in his home. 

So, I thought this child has no fear. 

Matthew 18:2-4 

He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them.  And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.  Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” 

Maybe, I could learn a lesson from this child? 

Brady has not experienced any harm during sleep from any bugs.  It was an experience that he has never known.  When presented with an experience he has never known, he decided to fight and not have fear. 

I cannot prepare for every unknown.  Life means that situations will happen to me that I have not experienced.  God will allow our paths to not always be smooth. 

Can I answer those time, when life gives me an unknown, as a child? 

If I do answer like Brady, I know what my response should be. 

I am not going to let this get me down.  I am going to punch Satan.  He is not getting me. 

No fear, no retreat and knowing I am protected. 

I kinda like that response. 

It is a spiritual night now.   What is my response? 

I am not going to let this get me down.  I am going to punch Satan.  He is not getting me.   

Goodnight, till spiritual morning comes.  That will be my words to you. 

Romans 2:21-23

you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal? You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking law.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodialpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org