Introducing Another Guest Writer!

Let me introduce you to Heather! We met back in my college days when we were both involved with K-Life. We managed to both marry hometown boys and so it has been fun to keep up with each other all these years. God has blessed her with many gifts, writing being the one that she is going to share with us today. I hope her words encourage you as they did me!

Lay it Down

My sweet baby girl is six months old. And for the last six months, I have rocked her to sleep every. single. night. It's partly because before she was born, I dreamed and hungered and longed for another sweet baby to rock for so long, and now that dream is fulfilled. It's also because she is the most precious thing ever and our time spent rocking together is so precious as well. And then there's the fact that our babies grow up too fast and you have to take every opportunity to snuggle them up while they will still let you. But I digress.

At her six month check-up, our pediatrician asked about her sleeping. I said she slept pretty good, which she does. He inquired about how we put her down to sleep. I knew he was NOT going to like the fact that I rocked her to sleep, so I stumbled and muttered something about rocking her to make sure she was drowsy, but I knew immediately what he was about to say.

"She'll learn to be a better sleeper if you let her put herself to sleep. Put her down awake and let her fall asleep on her own. You'll be glad you did, and so will she."

So, little by little, I've started putting her in her bed without rocking her. (Much- ha!) She does not like this one bit. Turns out, she loves the rocking as much as me because when I put her down in her bed she usually cries, raises up her head, and looks up at me with a helpless "Why would you do this to me?" kind of look.

She immediately rolls onto her tummy and cranes her neck up to look at me. (We've nicknamed this the "turtle" pose.) She lifts her head as high as she can in defiance and cries out in protest.

She will NOT lay her head down.

I pat her back and stroke her hair. I sing songs and talk softly to her. I turn on her "crib music" and try the pacifier. But no matter what, she will not lay her head down.

I know that if she does, as soon as she does, she will feel the comfort and relaxation of her head laying on the mattress, and be able to go to sleep. It is so frustrating to know this and not be able to convince her. She will not lay her head down.

Eventually, after much soothing on my part and much crying on her part, she gives in a little and allows me to gently guide her head down to the mattress. And almost immediately, she calms. It is amazing to watch her little eyes drift closed and see her breathe in deep to catch her breath as her head rests on the bed and her body relaxes.

Once she lays down her head, she is able to sleep. But she has to lay her head down, which most of the time she refuses to do, at least not without a fight.

The other night she woke up in the middle of the night and I was trying to get her back to sleep. That "turtle" head was extra stubborn, and I was so tired and ready to go back to sleep myself. I stood there beside her crib with my hand on her head whispering "Lay your head down, sweet girl. Just lay it down. You're okay. Mommy's here. Just lay that head down. Lay it down." And all of a sudden God brought these words to mind.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)

And for the next several minutes, as I watched my sweet baby girl in her bed, God allowed me to see a picture of myself.

Crying out in frustration. Screaming in protest. Worrying myself into a frenzy. Thinking if I fought hard enough and kept my head up long enough I could change my circumstances. When all along, if I would just lay my head down, rest would come. Answers might come. Peace would come.

I wonder how many minutes God spends standing beside me, watching me, comforting me, and pleading with me to "Lay it down. Lay your head down sweet girl. Just lay it down."

"You're okay...I'm here...Just lay your head down."

But just like my precious daughter, it seems to always take me a while to give in. The learning process is hard and doesn't feel good at the time. But neither of us are alone as we struggle. And when we finally do lay our heads down, the comfort that envelops us provides that sweet rest we have been crying out for all along.