The other day my daughter was trying to get my youngest grand daughter Nova, to take a nap. After several attempts she was allowed to lie on the sofa and fell into a deep sleep. There was much noise and business going on around her, and still she slept peacefully while life when on around her. I love watching children sleep. They have a beauty and peacefulness that surrounds their entire being.
I happened to be in the kitchen and saw her father come in and snuggle up against her. He had seen her waking up and wanted to let her know that he was near. She on the other hand was not ready to be fully awake, and did not appreciate his interfering with her intent to fall back asleep. She did not hesitate to voice her opinion on the subject. She does this little thing that turns into a big thing if she is not heard. She begins with a low growl, which if unheard, turns into an even bigger growl and escalates from there. His intentions were not to make her angry, but her unwillingness to waken could not be mistaken.
She ended up on the floor, in a little ball with her hair completely covering her face and her arms tightly surrounding her legs. She was doing her bet to shut out everything and everyone around her.
How many of us find ourselves in this very situation at the moment? So many of us were happily going about our days, surrounded by chaos yet happily and blissfully asleep on the sofa. As the world began to crumble around us and the noise became more intent, a large portion of us simply wanted to go back to sleep. Many being forced to open our eyes have curled up in a small ball with our hair covering as much as possible and our arms circling us for protection.
I will admit that staying asleep to what is taking place would be the simpler way to go, but is it the best choice. We are at a crossroads, one that the entire world is being asked to maneuver through. The time has passed that we can afford to stay sleeping in our state of bliss and ignorance. Lines are being drawn and a side must be chosen. You are being asked to awake and arise.
I found Nova in her little ball on the floor. Instead of grabbing her off of the floor and forcing myself upon her, I gently and meekly called out to her. She softened, and I touched her shoulder asking if I could hold her. At first she did not move, then ever so slowly she loosed her grip on her legs and reached up for my hands. She climbed into my arms and buried her little head into my shoulder and wrapped her arms around my neck. I love when she allows this to happen. I love feeling her melt into me letting me just hold and protect her. I love her spirit and her resolve, and her stubbornness, and I love her obedience and soft heartedness.
The adversary would love to see us stand in defiance, fighting one against the other. It loves the fear and division that is being created among us. It relishes in the contention and hate that is being manifest all around the world today.
God on the other hand loves when we will allow ourselves to enter into His arms, to find that safe place that only He can provide. He is calling us, ever so quietly in this noisy world to look up, to see His face in the midst of all this confusion. He wants to hold us in His arms. He wants us to melt into Him. He has promised to fight our battles if we will allow Him. The challenge is, we must choose to wake up.
All we need to do is look, in faith, nothing wavering.
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