Isn’t it funny how we spend the first 12 years of our life fighting the urge to sleep or fighting the someone who is trying to make us sleep? Oh my goodness, don’t make me go to sleep, I may missssssssssss something. Ages 13-25, love to sleep ONLY if it is on their terms and it usually doesn’t fall in line with normal working, living hours. Then we get to ages 25-50 when we are SOOOOO tired but the 1-12’s and the 13-25’s wont let us sleep. When we reach 50, there aint nothing stoppin’ us. We get to sleep. Sleep. Sleep. Unless your hormones are so outrageously out of whack that you lie awake all night as if you’ve sucked down 4 cups of coffee for your nightcap.
The way I see it, we were designed for sleep and it is a very important element to our well-being. It is supposed to take up a third of our life. It only makes sense that we should take it seriously. We take eating seriously and it only takes up 1/8 of our time. (Supposedly. Some take liberties there). We take work seriously. A third of our time.
Where have we gotten the idea that sleep is a side bar in the grand scheme of things. Whimpy people go to bed at a decent hour. We apologize around here if we’re tired. ???? “I’m sorry I’m so tired. I shouldn’t be. I have only fed every animal in the county, built a barn, and shoveled pea gravel so far today, I don’t know why I should be so tired. Please forgive me.” Pops apologizes when he takes a nap once in a blue moon. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me.” Does this make any sense to you? We are nuts.
People, sleep is necessary. It is imperative for good health. And boy, I am finding out the hard way. I lie awake all night and can hardly keep my eyes open during the day.
I don’t feel like going through all the medical trauma sleep deprivation puts on our bodies, minds and souls. We have all been exhausted. We know what it feels like. I believe it has long-term effects. Same as putting any other stress on our bodies.
In order for us to feel rested we are supposed to go through different cycles of sleep. I never get to the second, third or however many there are. Whatever cycle dreaming falls under, that is not happening. I have read that calcium/magnesium taken at bedtime helps get a restful night sleep. I take that and have for several years. Ain’t workin’. UNTIL last night I kicked it up two notches. Guess what? I didn’t wake up ALL NIGHT. And you know what? I had a super long dream taboot. It was a nightmare, but, hey, I’ll take what I can get. No one got killed. I cant wait to try it again tonight. My bed is calling me as we speak.
I love sleep. I hope I can really sleep again someday. It does wreak havoc on our lives and I don’t think we have a healthy respect for it. Did you know that getting rest is one of the Ten Commandments? For goodness sakes. I think He is really serious about this rest thing. I think I wanna do my part. If I can.
Rest is spoken of many times in the Bible but the following verse is one of my all time favorite verses. It makes me want to collapse and breath a huge sigh and smile in delight that we were designed to and for rest. Amen, sista.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30
Do you just love it? LOVE IT.
I’ve even gone as far as embroidering “sleep” verses on blankets.
I will pray for sleep for you, if you pray for sleep for me. Deal?
God bless,
Karen
The Shieling 